The Day of New Beginnings

How Changes Come

 

The sign hanging on our wall says, “Faith Makes Things Possible – Not Easy.” I am convinced the way we change is through our active participation with the Lord. The thing is, the way we change could be conceived as dangerously close to the “self help” sermons that many preach. It is two different realms though. We will never sense God’s help in the changes we come into. It’s only afterward that we sense the blessing of His presence. When all is said and done, we will perceive His work in us. “As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth (Job 19:25).” When the flesh nature is vying for control in us, we must take the bull by the horns and see it subdued. How is that the victory of Christ if we do it? A familiar passage of Scripture says it all: 
 
Phil. 2:
2 ¶  So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;
13  for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
 
The hunger for change comes from the Lord Himself. He wills us (drives us) to change. But change into what? Just eliminating some bad habits is not God’s purpose for our lives. It’s to bring all into subjection to His will. That involves our own will and determination to deal with what still rules over us apart from His Lordship. It will always seem as if we are doing it ourselves. That’s because we are! But God under girds our efforts and that’s what makes it different from self help teachings. We will know His presence as changes are wrought in us. It will draw us closer to Him. 
 
Our flesh natures are notoriously lazy and will resort to all manner of pseudo spiritual avenues to avoid change. “I’m looking for God to change me. I’m waiting for God to deliver me. I want it so bad!” We will wait until they are pitching dirt on our coffins. God has given us grace. We can deal with what comes up in us because of His grace. Remember, we have defined grace as divine enablement. He enables us, but we do it. 
 
In the natural realm, no one quits smoking or loses weight, by wishing it away. They take a stand and changes come. How much more when God is with us and we have a divine hope in His salvation working in us. 
 
It’ a paradox. Go after the changes in your life like there is no one in the world that is going to help you but yourself. But in that effort let their be a faith toward God that His Lordship is spread over us as we submit ourselves to Him in the conflict of two natures warring inside of us.
 
Changes do come. Not abbra cadabra, but as the fruit of our faith. We will find Christ’s presence filling the areas where the flesh nature has dominated us.