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“Unless change becomes the constant of our own lives, we’ll cease to be change agents in the lives of others.” – David Timms, Living the Lord’s Prayer.
If you asked the average person on the street if they liked change, the answers would mostly likely lean toward no. That is understandable because people enjoy routines and familiarity. But people also welcome new things: we like new seasons, new restaurants, new technology, new friends, and new adventures.
It’s not that we don’t like change, we just don’t want to change. Change can be hard. It’s often uncomfortable. When we become Christians, we accept the truth that we need to change. Change is needed if we, as broken people, will be made new in Christ. When we look at change this way, we can be better prepared to manage it. As Christians, we know everything happens for a purpose, and God can work through any situation.
Change can cause upheaval, confusion, stress, anxiety, and fear. It only makes sense that our first inclination is to resist it. When we’re faced with new challenges and new opportunities, we instinctively want to head back to Egypt as the Israelites did where the “cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic” (Numbers 11:5) were at least something they could count on. But change is more than a part of life. Change is life. Change is inevitable, whether it is a change in our health, career, role, or priorities.
It is God’s will that we mature as Christians, becoming more and more like Jesus. Growth is not automatic. It takes dedicated effort, and every Christian needs to make a conscious decision to grow spiritually. Part of this decision is realizing that we must change our lives. I may need to act differently in specific ways or eliminate some old routines or habits. When I do my part God will do His part and work in me.
I need to realize that my will alone is not enough to change my life. I can’t force myself to change. I need God’s help to do this. The first step is for me to begin to change the way I think because how I think determines how I act. I need to think maturely, focusing on others more than myself.
As John Maxwell observed, “Life is a matter of choices, and every choice you make makes you.” The Bible contains numerous accounts of individuals who made hard choices while following God and, as a result, enjoyed His rich blessings. Every choice we make moves us closer to God or further away from Him and His mission for our lives.
The Christian life is fundamentally a changed life. And it is never too late or too early to make changes. Regardless of your life season or how long you have been a Christian, you can change. Jesus equipped you to experience the abundant life of glorifying God in all you do. It is never too late to grow spiritually.
Discussion Questions:
- What changes would you like to make in your life in the New Year?? What are the obstacles to making those changes?
- What changes would you make this week to grow spiritually?