(With or Without Your Awareness)
(English & Español)
by Raimer Rojas
A Rule Of Life • The Three Divine Means Of Grace • The Big Shift Into Christian Formation • Crafting A Rule Of Life • Priorities to Consider When Crafting a Rule of Life
We’re all being formed—shaped day by day—not just by what we intentionally do, but also by what we passively absorb. Whether we realize it or not, the world around us is constantly shaping our thoughts, habits, and hearts. John Mark Comer identifies these six powerful forces that subtly influence our spiritual formation, often without our awareness. The first step toward becoming more like Jesus is recognizing that these forces are already at work. Once we see them clearly, we can stop drifting and begin walking with intentionality in our relationship with God.
Stories We Believe: The narratives we hold about ourselves, others, and God shape our identity and values. A belief in God’s goodness and presence leads to trust and peace, while negative stories can foster fear or anxiety.
Habits We Form: Our small, repeated actions shape our character and spiritual trajectory over time. Daily habits can draw us closer to God (like prayer or meditation) or reinforce disconnection and distraction.
Relationships We’re In: The people we surround ourselves with impact our beliefs and behaviors. Community can encourage growth, but unhealthy relationships can distort our values.
Environments We Inhabit: Our surroundings—physical spaces and media influences—affect our desires and focus. A consumeristic environment may foster materialism, while a simple setting may encourage gratitude.
Experiences We Have: Life events, both joyful and painful, shape our perception of God, ourselves, and the world. They can deepen our faith or create wounds that need healing.
Time: Over time, these influences accumulate and deeply root patterns within us, shaping our character and worldview. Spiritual formation is gradual, and time compounds the effects of these other forces, either reinforcing healthy growth or negative drift.
We are always being shaped—intentionally or not. These six forces are constantly at work, forming us into someone. The question is: who are we becoming? If we live passively, culture, pain, and distraction will do the shaping for us. But when we become aware of these influences and invite God into the process, everything shifts. He can rewrite our inner stories, redirect our habits, and reshape our lives for His purposes. Formation is happening either way. Let’s choose to be formed on purpose—by truth, by grace, and by God’s design.