Formation

This is a great description from Dallas Willard:

“Spiritual formation” is the process through which those who love and trust Jesus Christ effectively take on His character. When this process is what it should be, they increasingly live their lives as He would if He were in their place. Their outward conformity to His example and His instructions rises toward fullness as their inward sources of action take on the same character as His. They come more and more to share His vision, love, hope, feelings and habits. In the language of His ​“Great Commission” to His disciples, they are ​“taught to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matt. 28:20)