Three Faces of Formation: Knowing, Doing, and Wanting in the Journey to Be Like Jesus

When your head knows what’s right, your hands follow through, but your heart still isn’t in it.

When it comes to spiritual formation—becoming more like Jesus—we often mistake activity for maturity. We think knowing something about God is the same as being transformed by Him. Or we assume that doing good things is enough, even when our heart isn’t in it. But true formation—the kind that reshapes our character, reorients our desires, and conforms us to the image of Christ—moves through three distinct phases: knowing, doing, and wanting. Think of them as three faces on a journey, each one revealing more of who we’re becoming.

Let’s break this down.

1. The First Face:

Knowing

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge…” – Proverbs 1:7

This is where most of us begin. We learn about God, Scripture, theology, and Christian living. We gather sermons, read books, memorize verses, attend Bible studies. This is good. In fact, it’s necessary. You can’t desire what you’ve never known, and you won’t act on truth you’ve never encountered. Knowledge lays the foundation.

But it’s also where many stop. We confuse information with transformation.

You might know you should read your Bible. You might know what Jesus taught about forgiveness or generosity or prayer. But if knowledge doesn’t lead to change, it becomes stagnant. It puffs us up (1 Corinthians 8:1), and worse, it deceives us into thinking we’re spiritually mature when we’re just spiritually informed.

Knowing is a start—but it’s not the goal.

2. The Second Face:

Doing

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” – James 1:22

This is where we move from concept to commitment. From theory to practice. You start doing the things you know you should do. You open your Bible. You pray. You serve. You show up.

It might not feel good at first. In fact, it might feel like going to the gym when you’d rather sleep in. You read Scripture, but it’s dry. You serve, but it’s inconvenient. You obey, but your motives are mixed. Still—you show up.

That matters. Because obedience, even when the heart hasn’t caught up, creates space for formation. It postures you for change. The Spirit often works through your actions to shape your affections.

But again, doing isn’t the end. If your spiritual life is driven only by obligation, it will either lead to burnout or bitterness.

Doing is necessary—but it’s still not enough.

3. The Third Face:

Wanting

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” – Psalm 37:4

This is the face we’re aiming for—not just knowing what’s right, not just doing what’s right, but wanting what’s right.

This is where spiritual formation comes full circle. You don’t just read the Bible—you long for it. You don’t just pray—you crave intimacy with God. You don’t just love people—you want to love people like Jesus does.

It doesn’t happen overnight. Wanting grows over time as obedience deepens and the Spirit reshapes your desires. The same way a palate for healthy food develops after detoxing from sugar and junk, your soul begins to crave righteousness the more you pursue it—even imperfectly.

Jesus didn’t just know God’s will. He didn’t just do God’s will. He wanted it. He delighted in it. “My food,” He said, “is to do the will of him who sent me” (John 4:34). That’s the heart of spiritual maturity—when obedience is no longer a burden, but a joy.

Wanting is where transformation truly takes root.

A Real-Life Example: Bible Reading

Let’s say you struggle to read the Bible.

• Knowing: You understand that Scripture is important. You know it’s how God speaks, how truth is revealed, how disciples are formed. But you don’t read it.

• Doing: You begin to read it out of discipline. It feels forced. You don’t feel anything profound. But you show up. Daily. Quietly. Persistently.

• Wanting: One day, something clicks. You miss it when you don’t read it. You hunger for it. The Word becomes alive. You begin to see God more clearly, and you can’t wait to meet with Him again.

This is the rhythm of formation—knowing, doing, wanting.

So What Do We Do With This?

If you’re in the knowing phase—don’t stay there. Start small. Act on one thing you’ve learned.

If you’re in the doing phase—don’t quit. Keep going. The discipline is forming something in you that desire will eventually catch up to.

If you’re in the wanting phase—praise God. Stay humble. Stay hungry. And invite others into the journey.

Final Thought

You weren’t saved just to know about Jesus.

You weren’t called just to do things for Him.

You were invited to want Him—to love Him with your whole heart, mind, soul, and strength.

That’s formation. That’s the goal.

So wherever you are on the journey—keep going. He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it (Philippians 1:6).