June 19, 2014 (I have been off line a couple of days due to some computer issues.) I am reminded of the words of Doctor James Diehl, “If you don’t like it brother change it, if you can’t change it ask God to help you live with it.” When I look at that statement, the process of change can be broken down into three steps. 1) I need to survey what there is in my life that needs changing. I think God is in the business of changing us as His children. I love the quote, “God loves me the way I am, but He loves me too much to leave me this way.” Paul wrote about change in II Corinthians 3:17-18, “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” Change is God’s design for us, He wants us to take on His image and become more like Him. 2) After I survey my life and decide what needs to change, I need to ask the question, “Is it something that is within my power with God’s help to change?” Most of the time I think the answer to that question is “Yes!” God gives us the power to change the hindrance to change is usually us. I believe God is interested in every area of our lives, I don’t think our lives is departmentalized and God cares about this area but not interested in that area; I believe he cares about everything. If it concerns me it concerns God. Spiritually, physically, emotionally, financially, marriage, friendships, day to day relationships, vocation, it all is a concern to God. Therefore I have the right to ask for His involvement in helping me make the changes that I need to make. 3) If it is something that I can’t change, and there are some things that will fall into that category, especially when the issues involve other people, then we submit it to God. The Apostle Paul dealt with such an issue and it is recorded for us in II Corinthians 12:7-9. Paul speaks of a “thorn in the flesh”, he doesn’t name it and I think there is a reason for that. God’s grace covers all of our thorns. Paul said he sought the Lord three different times and God made the decision not to heal or remove this thorn that Satan had sent, but God did promise him grace. “My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Simply put, this can be summed up in a simple statement, “Survey the situation and decide whether we need God’s support for change or to submit to God for grace to endure.” Who has not had to pray the Serenity prayer? “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next. Amen. “ --Reinhold Niebuhr Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths. Proverbs 3, 5-6 I have made a commitment this morning to change some things; will you join me in the challenge to change?
Posted on: Thu, 19 Jun 2014 11:33:30 +0000
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