Vision Quest – Believing You Can Change

*Some call it a quiet time. We call it a Vision Quest. This is a simple Bible study to help you along your journey of discovering God’s purpose for your life.

What if you were told that you could change anything in your life? What would you change?

As happy as we may be with our lives, we usually have a few areas we wish were a little different.  Sometimes we ignore these areas, or pretend they don’t bother us, especially when we don’t have much faith that they can be different. Maybe it’s your anxiety and fear, your relationship with your parents, a weakness in your life, or a certain sin you have tried to change and failed.

The idea of being able to change is something that God wants to bring us hope and joy. This Bible study is to help you believe that change is possible with God. Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

Mark 9:21-24

Sometimes we get unbelieving when a certain challenge or situation has been part of our lives for a long time. But the Bible teaches that it does not matter how long it has been; if we believe, we can change anything.

Are there any areas of your life where you no longer believe change is possible? Why do you have a hard time believing in those areas?

This scripture says that you can change if you are willing to do a couple of things: get faith and ask for help to overcome unbelief.

Getting Faith

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.  But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

James 1:22-25

The word of God is a mirror that helps us see  the truth of who we really are. When we look into the word of God, and are willing to listen to and do what it says, it will change us.

How much effort have you put into finding and following scriptures in the area you want to change? When was the last time you made yourself a Bible study about that are of your life?

What scriptures could help you change the area you desire to change? Take time to find at least 5 scriptures about the specific area you want to change.

How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight.

Hebrews 11:32-34

How did these people change?  Describe the change that you read about.

What do you think it means to change “by faith”? How would faith change the way you see the challenges in your life? Read Hebrews 11:1 for a definition of faith.

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.

Romans 4:18-21

When we are unbelieving about a certain area of our lives, we often don’t want to face the facts about it. It often feels easier to ignore that area, or act like it doesn’t bother us.

Facing the facts doesn’t have to destroy your faith. In fact, you have to face the facts about who you are in order to really live by faith in God. Facing the facts helps us see that it won’t be our own power that changes us but only God.

What facts do you have to face about your life and your choices, before you can have faith in God’s power?

How much do you waver through unbelief when you face the facts about your life? Why do you think that is?

So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.

Romans 10:17

Faith comes from the word of God. The more we read the Bible, the more faith we will have.

Identify what 1-2 things you want to change.  Start to pray and ask for help on how to overcome.  Get the faith you need by starting to look into the mirror (Word of God) daily and applying what you see to your life and watch the change happen.