Do you feel like your on your own when it comes to life change? Are you stuck feeling “as is,” hopelessly trapped by your circumstances or past failures? Friend, I have good news for you. While you might not be able to change your circumstances and can’t undue your past, you can press forward knowing that the change you crave isn’t up to you alone.
[Tweet “Real life change is a process built on a partnership with God. #theNEWyou”]
I can hear your objections, however. Maybe you feel like you’ve already pursued that partnership and it feels like God has let you down. Maybe it seems like you’re doing all the work. Maybe you think He’s too busy helping everyone else but you. Maybe you think this is what it is.
Honestly, I HATE that overused saying.
Why? Because it’s defeatist. And it’s selfish. Yes, that’s what I believe, as harsh as it sounds.
When we refuse to embrace the process of authentic life change, resigned to living an “as is” life, we’re basically telling the next generation to give up too.
We’re saying to our children and grandchildren .that transformation isn’t possible for us and neither will it be for them. We’re communicating a message about the smallness of God in comparison to the largeness of our issues. Is that really what we want to do? When did we decide that sin trumped God’s grace and the redeeming blood of Christ.
When we don’t own our issues and give up at pursuing authentic life change, we give permission to the next generation to do that same. Is that really what we want for them? I don’t want my children to believe that my anger controls me. I want them to see a woman honest about her struggle with anger and seeking God’s work in the root issues to unearth the triggers. That’s the partnership — God changes me as I give Him my whole heart to transform from the inside out. He wants to change you too.
When we see our children struggling with jealousy, anger, and insecurity, do we want to pat them on the back and say, “Oh honey, that’s okay. It’s just the way God made you?” I don’t think so. We call them out on it and challenge them to confess their sinful hearts up to the Lord, seeking Him to give them the right way of thinking and living. So why, as adults, do we just give up. Why do we settle for “as is” when it comes to our issues, our hang-ups, our trip-wires, our sin?
Psalm 19: 7-14 NLT
7The instructions of the Lord are perfect,
reviving the soul.
The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The commandments of the Lord are right,
bringing joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are clear,
giving insight for living.
9 Reverence for the Lord is pure,
lasting forever.
The laws of the Lord are true;
each one is fair.
10 They are more desirable than gold,
even the finest gold.
They are sweeter than honey,
even honey dripping from the comb.
11 They are a warning to your servant,
a great reward for those who obey them.
12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?
Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant from deliberate sins!
Don’t let them control me.
Then I will be free of guilt
and innocent of great sin.
14 May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Friend, let’s push off the lies the devil spins our way about honest transformation and move towards God with pure hearts as we build our lives around the Truth found in the word.
Let’s invite Him to speak honestly to our souls about our issues! And Let’s invite the next generation to see that real change is a process built on a partnership with God, so that they embrace that partnership too.
Isn’t it time to embrace real life change together? Because it’s about more than just you and me. It’s about the next generation.
For more encouragement about real life change,click here to listen to a wonderful conversation I had with host Lynn Ford on the WBCL Mid-Morning Show.
