Do You Believe You Can Change?

I think change is good. As creatures of habit, we often like to run the same play once it starts working. But I think God enjoys changing things and constantly making them better. I also think God enjoys it when we change for the better. During my college years, I competed on the women’s track team as a sprinter. And over the course of four years, I changed a lot. I went from not really caring or trying my best my freshman year to striving to break the school record by my senior year. I changed when I decided to give 100% effort regardless of what anyone thought of me. I think the same concept applies when it comes to our relationship with God. If you really want to change, you have to give 100% effort, regardless of what anyone else thinks. You have to be willing to ask any question, share every thought and do whatever needs to be done, so that you change and become who you are meant to be.

The Bible has a few helpful insights for us if we really want to change. First we need to understand how God feels about change and be willing to face what might make us uncomfortable. Then we need to make decisions to believe the Bible over our emotions, choose to turn to God in prayer, and embrace the people God has put in our lives to help us.

God Loves Change

He changes the times and seasons of the year. He takes away the power of kings and gives their power to new kings. He gives wisdom to those who are wise and knowledge to those who understand.
Daniel 2:21 NCV

God is a God of change. So in order for you to be in sync with God, you have to value change. What is your attitude about change? Do you see change as an opportunity? Are you eager or do you resist and avoid opportunities to change? Often times, I don’t see change as an opportunity because it typically means I will be uncomfortable. I have been working on sharing my feelings with people and can honestly say I really don’t like doing it because it feels so uncomfortable, particularly sharing sad feelings. But 2 Corinthians 6:11-13 (TLB) says,

11 Oh, my dear Corinthian friends! I have told you all my feelings; I love you with all my heart. 12 Any coldness still between us is not because of any lack of love on my part but because your love is too small and does not reach out to me and draw me in.13 I am talking to you now as if you truly were my very own children. Open your hearts to us! Return our love!

This scripture teaches me that God wants me to share my feelings with people. So despite how much I dislike it, I am working to change that part of my life and as I change I see the effects in my relationships because my friendships are closer. What needs to change in your life? What do you see in the Bible that God is calling you to apply to your life?

Are you grateful for opportunities to change? Or do you resist being uncomfortable so much that you can’t see the good God is trying to do in your life?

Change is a Decision to Believe

He said, “The right time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Change your hearts and lives and believe the Good News!”
Mark 1:15 NCV

Change requires faith. In order to change you have to believe the Bible over what you feel. You have to believe the Bible over your hurts, your circumstances, and your thoughts.

What do you believe in more than the Bible right now? How far has it gotten you? How much peace do you have? How much hope? Faith? Confidence? Believing the Bible gives you the ability to change. Pick a scripture in the area that you think God is calling you to change and decide to believe it over your own emotions.

Change Requires Choosing God over Self

Do not be shaped by this world; instead be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you; you will know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect.
Romans 12:2 NCV

This scripture talks about being changed “within.” This means letting God change not just your actions or behavior but the way you think about how to live life. This mind change happens through focused Bible study and prayer. You tell God what you think, then you find out what he thinks through the Bible and work to agree with him and do what he thinks is best for your life in each situation. Let him tell you what’s best in areas like the job you have, the person you date or marry, the friends you choose, and your priorities, just to name a few.

The only way to do this is to pray. When we pray, we are able to get the help we need from God to change the way we think. How much time do you spend praying? Are you giving prayer your best effort? Are you honest with God about what you think and do you pray until your heart changes?

God Uses People to Help You Change

Some people brought a paralyzed man to see him. He was being carried by four of them. 4 But they could not get the man inside to Jesus because the house was so full of people. So they went to the roof above Jesus and made a hole in it. Then they lowered the mat with the paralyzed man on it. 5 When Jesus saw how much faith they had, he said to the paralyzed man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.”
Mark 2:3-5 (ERV)

This man needed help from others to change because he was unable to do it on his own. He needed friends who would have the faith to help him get closer to God; without those friends, he would have been stuck.

Do you feel stuck in any area of your life? Consider from this scripture that maybe that means you are not getting enough help from spiritual friends. Without God and the people he puts in our life it is very difficult to change the core of what we believe. Things like bitterness, resentment, mistrust, disappointment, jealousy, anger, and deceit can be so ingrained in our character that they are very difficult to uproot. That is why we need spiritual people in our lives to help us have the courage and faith to change when we don’t have it ourselves.

Do you resist the people God puts in your life to help you change? Or embrace their input, knowing you can’t change alone?

Experience the amazing plan God has for you that will only happen when you decide to change and believe.