I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength. - Ephesians 1:18-19 (CBS)
If you are honest, there is at least one thing in your life that you would like to change. It is true of all of us. We each have something that we would prefer to be different. Maybe it is our appetite, procrastinating ways, bad habits, or secret sin. But we all have something. So what is that one thing that you would like to change about yourself?
Maybe you’ve even reached a point where a change in that area of your life seems so far-fetched that you have settled into the mindset of, “this is just the way I’ve always been, and it’s the way I’m always going to be…” If so, it is most likely your thought process is directly connected to some sort of rut you’re in spiritually.
Over time, I’ve realized that there are a handful of reasons why some people change and others do not.
People change when they want to. Maybe they’ve learned something that motivates them or lights a desire for change. Sometimes this happens due to a new relationship that opens them up to new truth, revelation, or levels of success. As a result, they start to realize that they have been settling for too little. You change when you want to.
People change when they have to. This type of change is often motivated by pain and difficulty. For example, when you have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, the doctor says you have to change your lifestyle to overcome the condition. You change because you have to.
People change when they are able to. This type of change occurs in people that want to change and have to change but maybe weren’t able to in the past. This change can require assistance from others. Change can be assisted by the practical insights offered in mentoring relationships, recovery programs, continued education, counseling, and even business consulting. All these things can help enable us to change. You change when you are able.
But here's what I’d like to encourage you with: God has something for your life that is beyond behavior modification. God wants to bring you to a place where you begin to experience a change in such a way that Biblical truth is made manifest in your life. Such as, “Old things pass away and everything becomes new again” (2 Corinthians 5:7). To get to this pinnacle of change, you must be willing to embrace the Holy Spirit’s empowerment. Familiarize yourself with this verse and claim its effect over your life, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). In all of your seeking for change -- or the enablement for change -- don't ever forget to throw your hands up in the air and welcome the power of the Holy Spirit into your life through the name of Jesus Christ.
Is there any area in your life where you want to change, or you need to be able to change? But a more important question, is there any area of your life where God is dealing with you about embracing change?
Because of this truth, “GREATER is He that is in you than He that is in the world…” (1 John 4:4), you can change! You don’t have to stay in this spiritual rut! After all, A.W. Tozer said it best, “You are either in a rut, rot, or revival… and a rut isn’t anything but a grave with both ends kicked out of it.”
You do not have to settle for the way it has always been. You do not have to settle for the generational curse on your life and family. You do not have to settle for the rut and the unexplainable things that have just always been the way they've been. Do not settle for “it is what it is,” but know that “it is what you make it” because you have the power of Jesus Christ dwelling within you. Do not settle for a weak, feeble faith, but know that greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world. You have the power to make it happen! You are a winner!
God requires change. And, He wants you to make something happen because He has given you the power to experience change. He has authorized you to use His Word to bring change, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only…” (James 1:22). God loves doers, and you have the authority of God to do something with His Word!
Don’t let these stumbling blocks prevent you from being a doer of God's Word.
“Tomorrow sounds like a better time to start.”
“I’ve already tried and failed.”
“I can never make a difference.”
Instead, put these stepping stones in place.
Develop a Sense of Urgency: Value the sense of swift action.
Practice Patience: Have the patience to see God’s timing in the change. Only patience works as a virtue. As John Maxwell encourages, “Patience must be given the opportunity to coexist with urgency.” Ralph Marston adds, “Success requires both urgency and patience. Be urgent about making the effort and patient about seeing the results.”
Be a Hope Helper: Accept that greatness can happen because of what Jesus can do in you and through you.
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength. - Ephesians 1:18-19 (CBS)
I offer you two final thoughts of encouragement that can help you tremendously, two things I wish someone would have told me long ago.
As you begin to embrace change in your own life and become an agent of change for others:
Don't you ever let your vision to win the world overlook the person standing right in front of you.
Stop trying to do everything, and do for one what you wish you could do for everyone.
Do those two things, and then watch as your life begins to make a difference in your family, your community, and your church because you simply allowed God to transform your life through His desired changes.
Pray this prayer, “God, change me, allow me to become a doer who is urgent in my effort and patient in waiting for the results. Help me to make a difference to someone else today, tomorrow, and every day.”
May the Lord open the eyes of your heart to see the greatness of His power, which is available through the hope of His calling and the wealth of His glorious riches. Greater things are yet to come in your life!
We invite you to watch this message, Hope Helpers, from Pastor Eric Gilbert, as he encourages us to make change happen within our lives. We can avoid the stumbling stones we face by applying three stepping stones because “Greater is He that is in us than he in the world!”