i love that when we take a step to make any kind of change, which is the necessary and obvious first requirement to change (ie: that we take the first step), God promises to meet us where we are. but, it's a choice we make, and a process in which we must actively participate. we can't check out and expect to really experience a life of godly, positive, and ongoing change. aristotle, while perhaps not a spiritual authority, had it right when he said in his "poetics" that "life exists in actions." we have to be active participants in the change we want to see and be in life.
i think it's telling when paul says, "be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (romans 12:2 kjv). the biblical imperative is for us to actively choose transformation and change (don't be conformed, be transformed, prove)--thereby rejecting conformation--so that we can be changed from the inside out, readily recognizing what God wants from us, and quickly responding to it (message translation). and who can argue with this verse: "therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 corinthians 5:17).
once we take the step to be transformed, we have the further promise of "being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (philippians 1:6 kjv). i am so thankful that when we make a break from what we know and our personal little status quo, God is right there, ready to guide every step of the way. sure, he wants to know we're serious, but we don't have to go it alone, and the godly, positive, and ongoing changes we're actively making is the "good work" he's been waiting to perform all along.
finally, i really enjoyed reading this post, and i particularly love the title..."going through the change." that's really what it's all about. the 'through-ness' of it all. if we stop in the middle of the process, we haven't gone through, and the good work of change and transformation hasn't been effected...
yeah, i'm going through the change, too ;-)
i think it's telling when paul says, "be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (romans 12:2 kjv). the biblical imperative is for us to actively choose transformation and change (don't be conformed, be transformed, prove)--thereby rejecting conformation--so that we can be changed from the inside out, readily recognizing what God wants from us, and quickly responding to it (message translation). and who can argue with this verse: "therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 corinthians 5:17).
once we take the step to be transformed, we have the further promise of "being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (philippians 1:6 kjv). i am so thankful that when we make a break from what we know and our personal little status quo, God is right there, ready to guide every step of the way. sure, he wants to know we're serious, but we don't have to go it alone, and the godly, positive, and ongoing changes we're actively making is the "good work" he's been waiting to perform all along.
finally, i really enjoyed reading this post, and i particularly love the title..."going through the change." that's really what it's all about. the 'through-ness' of it all. if we stop in the middle of the process, we haven't gone through, and the good work of change and transformation hasn't been effected...
yeah, i'm going through the change, too ;-)
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