“We must clearly understand that there is a rigorous consistency in the human self and its actions. This is one of the things we are most inclined to deceive ourselves about. If I do evil, I am the kind of person who does evil; if I do good, I am the kind of person who does good (1 John 3:7-10). Actions are not impositions on who we are, but are expressions of who we are. They come out of our heart and the inner realities it supervises and interacts with.”
We all live from our depths. Every action, decision, and choice are taken because we are the kind of person who would take such an action. Spiritual formation is not simply a branch of Christian life - spiritual formation is a human endeavor. All of us have and are being formed spiritually. Therefore, the question is not "will I be formed?" but rather, "how will I be formed?" This is the first step toward change, understanding the rigorous consistency within our individuality and our actions. When we come to understand this principle we can begin to own our deficiencies and take the necessary practical steps toward change. And as we open ourselves up to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit we do not simply change behavior but we change the source of our behavior. This then brings holistic change to our being, starting with the necessary internal change that works its way out into all of our interactions.