WATCH LIVE
EVENTS
NORTHSTAR
GIVE
“The process of biblical change, explained in God’s Word, begins when you repent of your sin and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. God has given you everything you need to make the changes in your life that will please Him and will lead to His blessings. As you continue to obey God’s Word, biblical change toward maturity will occur in your life until you see Jesus face to face.” – John Broger.
Romans 12:22 is a well-known verse: “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” That verse gives you the blueprint, but it is not a blueprint that is easy to follow. If only we could read a book, have a spiritual mentor, seek solitude and pray, recommit, have a thorough knowledge of Romans, and wallah, you have a mature, godly Christian.
Real life tends to work differently: we commit, then fail, confess and recommit, and then repeat. We want God (or someone else) to help us change once and for all. The good news is that we can change but deep, lasting spiritual change is a process. It rarely happens overnight. It involves training, testing, and time. There are no shortcuts. We hear people who give their testimony on how they were dramatically delivered from drug or alcohol addiction, and we may think, “Why can’t God do that for me for the challenges in my life? “
Real spiritual change flows out of an intimate relationship with Jesus. The more we love Jesus, the greater our motivation to obey Him and to make the choices that please Him. True change becomes easier if our hearts become wholly devoted to Christ. But it also requires discipline and the indwelling Spirit of God. So, does God do the work, or do we? According to Scripture, the answer is both. Philippians 2:12-13 says, “…Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”
Don’t forget to focus on what never changes: “He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection” (Psalm 91:4 ). This world is always changing. The news today will be different tomorrow. People change, circumstances change, and the world changes, but God never changes. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He is good and trustworthy. We can walk confidently as we depend only on Him. His love for us never changes. His character is always dependable. His truth, ways, and purposes do not change. The seasons come and go, so focus on the unchanged and unchanging God. “Lord, through all the generations you have been our home! Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God” (Psalm 90:1-2).
Discussion Questions:
- How do you typically respond to change? Does it excite you? Does it stress you out?
- How can you better handle change this week?