Change is inevitable…. Change is a Process.... Change comes to all of us-whether we prepare for it or not. Our lives are in a constant state of transition. Life is always moving forward; nothing ever remains the same. To move forward, you have to leave the past behind. There is no standing still because time is moving forward. To a greater or lesser degree, we are continually being changed--whether suddenly or gradually--into the new, the different, the unexpected, or the untried. Everything in this world is liable to change and it is the law of life. If you don't change your life; your life will change you. The only constant in life is change.
Health may give place to sickness,
pleasure may give place to pain,
plenty may give place to poverty,
love may give place to enmity,
honor may give place to disgrace,
strength may give place to weakness,
and life may give place to death.
The process never ends until we die. We need to remember that “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God, that’s why we call it the present. Matt. 6:34 says this: “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Jesus told us several times in this section of Scripture to “take no thought” about natural things; clothes, food, shelter, etc. Take no thought means to not be anxious, worried, or troubled. We are not to be worried, concerned, anxious, or troubled about tomorrow. After all, our Father knows what we need. Live today. Live in the now, in our thoughts, we are often somewhere else. Live in the present, by practicing God’s presence every moment of everyday. Rejoice in the Lord. Psalmist says “This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
We need to rejoice in the present. - Robert J. Hastings said “It isn't the burdens of today that drive men mad. It is the regrets over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow... Regret and fear are twin thieves who rob us of today.” And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility. Are you a Change Agent or a Victim of Change? The choice is yours? We must become the change we want to see in the world. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future. When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves. Harold Wilson said “Change is inevitable. He who rejects change is the architect of decay. The only human institution which rejects progress is the cemetery.” If you're in a bad situation, don't worry it'll change. If you're in a good situation, don't be over excited it'll change. If you don't like something, change it. If you're a believer, God has called you to be a change agent in the world, fulfilling His purposes wherever you go. Your story is so much more than your personal life; it’s a vital part of the greater story of what God is doing in the world. Stepping into your role as God’s representative within your sphere of influence will unleash God’s power all around you, changing the world for the better.
All information will cause you to change, either for the negative or the positive. It's up to the individual to accept or reject the information based on the source. In order for us to grow in maturity and in character, we must first gather new information to reach the level we have set for ourselves. We can't allow every piece of information to occupy our mind. Television, radio and what we gather from friends and social media can be a serious distraction. Like everything else, we have to learn how to filter this information that comes into our minds. This is why Knowledge of God is the most powerful source which we can use to change the world. The best changes often start as single, simple thoughts of God. Jesus said “Consider carefully what you hear," (Mark 4:24) Once you submit yourself to the principles of the word of God, change will begin to affect your life. You will learn to accept the change that happens to you under the Biblical principle as being prosperous and productive. When change comes, we must realize that it doesn't come over night. Transformation comes through a period of time and there will be "setbacks". Be patient and allow it to run it's course. Nothing worth having comes easy, but the rewards are worth the effort. The greater the level of assignment God gives you, the more spiritual warfare will take place over you. When God calls you for a mission He will train you for it in a way that best prepares you to handle the mission’s demands.
Bible says. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2) Paul uses three identifying adjectives to describe the will of God. 1. It Is good - Regardless of what the Lord may ask us to do, we will find in the end that it is good. 2. It Is Pleasant - Pleasant in the sense that when His will is revealed to us, it is something that we are made willing to do. As we move through this life, God is in the business of maturing us. As we grow, His demands on our life change. 3. It Is Perfect - Nothing we could add to God's plan would improve it. When He reveals His will to us, we need to realize that God sees the end of the matter before the matter begins. He knows the path we will take and He knows the obstacles and valleys we will pass through as we go. His plan cannot be improved upon, but it must be followed for there to be victory and blessing! We can be in no better place than the perfect will of God for our lives. So, the secret of living a holy life boils down to God having control of our minds, our bodies and our wills.
We are all the sum total of our decisions, and take a moment to contemplate the decisions you make. Whenever the Bible talks about people and their choices, it reminds us the negative consequences of their wrong choices as well as the positive consequences of their wise choices. The life you are leading today is the result of past decisions and indecisions. If you don’t like your current situation, change the way you make decisions. Many people make decisions based on instant gratification with no regard for long term consequences. The most important key to making wise decisions is CONSEQUENCES! There is Power in the Wise Choices. Every single decision you have ever made, or will ever make, has consequences. Once we learn to evaluate our decisions based on consequences, all the other considerations fall neatly into place. It’s that simple. Each day presents opportunities to make choices that will change our lives forever.
Change and innovation are integral components of both biological and spiritual growth. The Scriptures focus more on process than on product, because all believers are in a process (whether we resist it or not) of becoming the people God meant us to be. Without change, growth is impossible. Abram learned the truth that it is impossible to stay where you are and go with God at the same time: The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and our father’s household and go to the land I will show you.” Abram experienced immense change through his encounters with God. This is no mere shifting of external elements in his life, not simply an adjustment of activity or schedule. God asked for a complete overhaul of Abram’s career, dreams, and destiny. God even changed his name from Abram to Abraham to signify the depth of this change. But there is a huge gap between when the promise comes and when it is fulfilled. Change is part of God’s plan for us, but it’s hard. Change is tough enough when we’re the only ones involved. But the role of a leader is to bring about change in others. Now that’s really tough!
When God calls a person, it requires trust and obedience to follow him. It is not simply a call to a new way of life; it is a call to a new kind of life. This level of uprooting and total change can generate great stress. It is threatening, scary and difficult. Change of this magnitude must be deeply rooted in a solid core of values. Whatever your age, no one is saved full grown. How do we grow from childhood to adolescence to maturity? You will not instantly be mature. Maturity is a lifelong process, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby;” (1 Peter 2:2). Feed daily on the Word of God. That’s where your strength lies. Saturate your heart and life with the Word. Maturity is Christ-likeness. , “Till we all come…unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13). “…teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Colossians 1:28). Perfect doesn’t mean sinless; it means mature. You can be young only once, but you can be immature for a long time. Many churches have people who’ve been born again but cease to grow.
Jesus said "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5) Jesus spoke of Himself as a Vine and we are His branches. He tells us that the branch is to abide in the vine, and then there will be growth, maturation, fruition. Jesus also shows us how to change and improve our selves to become what God wants. In John 15:7 Jesus said “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you”. Jesus said the same thing in John, "you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32) The only way to replace the error of the world’s way of thinking is to replace it with God’s truth, and the only infallible source of God’s truth is found in his revealed word, the Bible. There are no shortcuts. There is no magic formula for renewing our minds. We must fill our minds with God’s word. Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17). This is why Moses said to Joshua “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8)
