A couple of weeks ago my post was about “Beginning Again”; this week I want to talk about continuing those changes.  Many people set new goals to accomplish during the next twelve months, most areas include eating better, losing weight, exercise more and better, but also could include getting out of debt, painting the house, keeping a garden, and the list goes on.  But the change I want to talk about is – ourselves – how we think, speak, and live.

Some questions to ask:  Are you happy with yourself with how you handle problems and interact with others?  What about how you communicate, do you need help choosing not only your words but the volume you speak them?  Well, there is hope and help for you – and me too.

I’ve hear some say that they have tried to change and just can’t – but more likely it’s that they don’t want to change or may be afraid to change.  However we don’t need to fear the changes that our loving Heavenly Father wants to make in us personally.  So it stands to reason that since God wants us to change – to be more like Him – that if we don’t change – then we are being rebellious against him, and that is not a good place to be.  Everyone likes their comfort zones but God wants us to be comfortable in what He has called us to be and to do, and to be comfortable in His calling we must change.  So it’s not a matter whether or not we can change as much as it’s a matter of whether we want to change.

We are instructed in Romans 12:2 to not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of our mind (to the Word of God).  Colossians 3:9 tells us to put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created us.  God wants to change us from glory to glory which means that we begin to act more and more like Him. Talking like Him, thinking like Him, and having our motives and attitudes changed to be more like Him.  (2 Corinthians 3:18)

When our thinking changes to agree with the Word of God, then we change to be more like Him. These changes show up in all areas of our lives.  Anger disappears; jealousy no longer has a hold on us; bitterness, resentment, gossiping, fear and doubt are in the past; generosity over takes selfishness, timidity and fear of rejection are replaced with boldness and acceptance.  And it’s all because of the power of God working in us. The fruit of the spirit as mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23 – love, joy, faith, self-control, goodness, kindness and peace become evident in our lives.

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “if you don’t use it you’ll lose it”.  If we don’t use our muscles then our body will weaken and we lose strength to move.  If we don’t use our brain to think correctly then we lose the soundness of our mind, and when that happens then fear begins to dominate our thoughts and it seeks to overtake our body with sickness, our soul (mind) with worry and mental anguish, and then sometimes even moves on to our spirit with doubt and lack of faith.  If we don’t change for the good then we will change for the worse.  That’s just the way it is; no one just stays the same.  So let’s make some changes that will improve us; not just in the natural but for eternity.

Whatever we spend the most time thinking about or doing, that is what we value the most.  How much value are you placing on getting to know the Word of God?  If you say you believe in the power of prayer does the amount of time you spend praying prove it?  How much value do you place on walking according to the Word of God?   It’s just not that we need to know the Word of God; we need to speak and live by His Word.  That is our calling as a child of God; to live worthy of our vocation wherewith we are called in Christ Jesus.  (Ephesians 4:1)  Also according to Colossians 1:10, we are to walk worthy of the Lord; being fruitful in every good work, and increase in the knowledge of God.  We are called to do good works and we are called to learn more about our Lord.  The more we learn of Him and believe Him, the more we change to be like Him, and the more victory we have in our lives.

So now we have made a full circle:  1) we know we need to change and that God wants us to change to be more like Him, and 2) we know that increasing our knowledge of Him (renewing our mind to the Word) will cause us to grow in our likeness of Him.

I challenge you this week to make a quality decision – for the rest of your life – to not be lax or stubborn or fearful of change but decide to allow God to work in your heart (spirit) and soul (your thinking).  As we continue to believe what He says and continue to speak it over our lives then we will continue to live the abundant life that Jesus came to give us.  (John 10:10)

Have a great week.