When Things Don’t Change
Image by the|G|™ via Flickr
In my 38 (almost 39)years on this Earth, I have seen so many things change. I have seen myself get older, my children transform before my eyes and become teens, and my career path change quite a few times. Change is inevitable.
The New Year has begun and for many it is a new start. It is a new opportunity to make some changes in our lives that maybe we didn’t have the gumption to do before. The types and quantity of resolutions are endless.
The problem is when things don’t change.
You’re still the same weight. Your marriage is still a mess. Your kids still hate your guts. Your finances are still a wreck. You still hate your job.
The blame game begins on the things that didn’t change. Despair and disappointment set in and you’re done.
The year comes to a close again, and you resolve to make “the next year”, the “year” everything changes, and the cycle continues on. The failure to see change continues.
The following reasons things don’t change sometimes are things that I have come to understand about myself and still walk through and wrestle with all the time. I don’t claim to have mastered them, but I believe they will help you.
1) We don’t see the change in the circumstances around us is because of our failure to see the change that needs to take place inside of us.
Many times things need to change inside of us in order for things to change before things can change in the outside world. We have attitudes, mindsets, and ways of thinking that need to change. Perhaps you are filled with pride or you lack mercy, or you lack character. If the way we think or see things doesn’t change, we would doom everything we want to accomplish. Left to our own devices, because of the sinful, fallen nature we have, we would mess it all up. We may see this as God torturing us or denying us what we want but this is His mercy on us that He doesn’t gives us what we want, when we want it. This is definitely a tough pill to swallow. No doubt.
2) We don’t see change because we are looking for something outside of Christ that can only be found in Him alone.
This one is huge. Many of the things we desire for ourselves are merely a substitute for something we can find in Christ alone. Whether it’s security, love, acceptance, or provision, God wants to fill all of these things in our lives. All too often we turn to our jobs, our spouses, our kids, or even doing good things to fill the longing of our hearts. The problem is that they never bring lasting joy to our lives. God is jealous for our hearts and He will not let anything bring true fulfillment outside of Him and what Jesus did on the cross.
I have no doubt that all of you wrestle with these things in varying degrees. There may some of you that this may be an eye-opener for you. My prayer for you (and me) is that we will have ears to hear, eyes to see, and teachable heart to allow God to reveal us those things we need to learn. That we would be able to look back on the previous year, and see how far God has brought us all.
The one thing I am grateful for that doesn’t change is how much Jesus loves you and me.
God bless your New Year
Kevin
Questions to Ask Yourself Before 2008
- 1) What do I believe God to do in my life in the next year?
- 2) What am I going to do in the coming year to prepare for what I believe for until it comes about?
- 3) How am I going to serve God and others in my church this coming year?
- 4) What am I going to do to bring others to know Christ in the coming year?
These are very important questions to ask yourself now. I know that everyone is busy with Christmas shopping and parties and family gatherings, but these are very important questions to ask yourself and start writing down these ideas.
What are you believing God for this year? What do you want God to do in your life, your job, your church in 2008? How are you going to be an active participant in seeing these things come to life in 2008? If you are just sitting, expecting something to happen, you may be waiting another year. I don’t want to see that happen to anyone (including myself) have to go through the same stuff that I am facing this year. How are you actively going to go after the blessing? Have you made a prayer plan of attack? You may ask what a prayer plan of attack is. It’s a list of things or one thing that you are going to commit to praying for on a consistent basis. This is a list that you can keep somewhere before you to remind you to pray for these things. Persistence is a key to seeing your prayers answered. Why wouldn’t we want to remind God of the things that are important to us?
Have you started thinking about things that you would be able to do in your church to help? What are your gifts and talents? How can we use those abilities to further the kingdom of God? You may not want to make a commitment to do something every Sunday, but what about every other Sunday? What about once a month at the very least?! If you can’t give an hour or two a month for the local body that is pouring into your life, you are missing the blessing of your life! If you take care of God’s house, don’t you think that God will take of yours? Don’t you think that it’s possible your selfishness could be holding back God’s blessing in your life? Think about it! It doesn’t take much to say good morning and greet folks walking into the church. You never know what a difference your service will make in someone’s life or how God may bless you for your obedience!
The last question is the most important question of the four. How do I influence others to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ? There are so many ways to do this. There are more articles, books, and strategies for this. Many times we miss the most important way to do this and that is to live as an example of the love, integrity, and selflessness of Christ. When the boss is not at work, making sure things get done that would get done normally. When you have an opportunity to get away with something at home or work, admit your mistakes and do what you can to correct them. Be humble, don’t come across as you are better than others. Hold doors open for folks. Don’t cut people off in traffic. Do something nice for someone that is not nice to you. I know this is deep stuff here. Paul spoke in Corinthians that he would love to teach them the “deeper” things of God, but they could not get the basics down. When you have a revelation of His love for you, these things will become second nature. Many “Christians” need to return to the cross or come to the cross for the first time and be washed in His blood and His all consuming love! We need to lay down our preconceived notions of who He is and say “Show me who you are!” Christ said the Holy Spirit would give us the power to be witnesses (Acts 1:8). Let us influence the world around us instead of it influencing us!
My prayer is that everyone who reads this will have the best New Year ever. Let’s enter it proactive and confident of the great things that God has in store for us!
PS: This is NOT my last blog for the year. Please keep checking back. Thank you to everyone who takes the time to read these. They truly come from my heart. Thanks.
