Changes
Everyone changes. Sometimes the changes are good and sometimes when we change we hurt others or ourselves resulting in a bad change. I think everyone is on a quest to try to change for the good but sometimes we give up because it is too hard or we don't want it bad enough to really work at it. Our endurance fades away and we no longer have it in us to press on and make changes in our life. I think bad changes are the result of giving up. When we reach a point where we are either too lazy or too apathetic to work on the things in our life that weigh us down and hinder us from not changing into the person that we want to be. Too often we try to change on our own strength and this is why we fail because we are not leaning on God's strength to change us into who we want to be and who He wants us to be. Changing areas in your life is never easy, it does take work and nothing that takes work is easy. But we must continually press on so that we can change things in our life especially areas of sin, pride and selfishness. These bad changes can hurt others and ourselves but ultimately they hurt God. And the number one goal we are to strive for is to change in a way that glorifies God. It does puzzle me though...if we give up on making good changes in our life and end up making bad decisions and bad changes does that mean that we are never truly what God wants us to be? I mean, there are certain things about ourselves we can never change the obvious things are we can't change who our family is, what our heritage is, how tall we are etc...but there are also certain inherited traits that are going to always be a part of us no matter what. It's the way we were designed and the personality God gave us. But I mean are we always what God wants us to be or are there times in our life where we are being so selfish and lazy that we are not being what God is wanting us to be? And if we never change does that mean we disappoint God and don't ever grow into what he wants us to be? I mean He designed us, He created us and He is sovereign so He is ultimately in control of who we are but how do I know for sure that I am fully living up to my potential of what God wants me to be? Obviously sanctification is a two-part process. To become more like Christ He has to work in us but we have to work hard to change and to glorify Him as well. Also does it seem that when people change for the good and are making positive decisions that you can tell. You can see them grow and good fruit coming out of their life and it's like written all over their face that they are changing in good ways, no one wants to keep a secret how they are growing in God. But when people make bad decisions they want to cover it up. Outwardly you may not be able to tell they are making bad decisions. But they know they are but are good at covering it up. Sometimes eyes can reveal truth and other times it hides deceit and lies. Eyes are the windows to our soul but you have to look deep enough or you can be fooled into thinking that someone is someone they are not. Maybe the person isn't purposely being fake or maybe they are but I think that sometimes if you look deep enough you can tell when a person has changed in negative ways. It's all so very odd. But the thing that is wonderful is forgiveness. Number one, God forgives us when we makes changes that are bad but He has also enabled us to forgive others when the way they change effects both us and them in negative ways. Sometimes we have to stop trying to figure people out and get comfortable with the reality that you won't ever fully know the real them and trust that God is working in their life and pray for them. Sometimes prayer is the only thing we can do for people.
Get comfortable with mystery!
Get comfortable with mystery!