“Being conformed” goes totally, radically against the ingrained objectification perspective of our culture. Graspers powerfully resit being grasped by God.Manipulators strongly reject being shaped by God. Controllers are inherently incapable of yielding control to God. Spiritual Formation is the great role reversal: from being the subject who controls all other things to being a person who is shaped by the presence, purpose and power of God in all things…

We tend to evaluate our own meaning, value and purpose, as well as those of others, not by the quality of our being but by what we do and how effectively we do it… The restoration of being and doing in their proper relationship brings deadly consequence to [our] instant gratification drive…

When we operate from the perspective that our doing determines our being, we expect immediate returns on our investment of time and resources–observable results that prove that we have performed well and are therefore persons of value and worth. If we fail to receive instant feedback, we presume we have failed and begin to struggle with a pereived loss of self-image, value, purpose and even identity.

Instant gratification persons have great difficulty waiting patiently for God’s timing; trusting God to bring the needed transformation in God’s time, not theirs; persevering in obedience even when there is no indication that such obedience is making any difference in their lives.

“Being conformed” militates against our need for instant gratification.”