Change

How often are we ready for a change?  Just plain tired of where we are at or what we are doing in life.  How often do we think or feel we are better than what or where we are and want more?  How often do we get some type of revelation or have an eye opening experience and realize a change that needs to be made but, stop short of the actual change itself?  Whether we feel we have been in a particular place too long, want different or need the change; it’s my opinion that often times one of three things happens before we can actually achieve that change. 

1.   We deny that change needs to occur because we don’t want to see the wrong in ourselves.

Sometimes we’re hit with a reason we’re stuck and it’s because of something we need to fix within ourselves.  Because it’s a harsh reality we can soon fall into a denial to the point that we completely dismiss it all together.  It can be a really hard and painful thing to digest knowing that the reason we can’t get anywhere, finish anything or achieve much is due to our own mistakes or possibly our own laziness. 

2.    We get this big eye opening experience but, never take the necessary steps afterwards to complete the change.

We think to ourselves…Wow, this is what I do or I can really learn something from this.  We think up these wonderful ways to change things to include how and when we’re going to do this or that.  Only for days, weeks and months to pass and we’re still stuck in the same place doing the same things because we weren’t disciplined enough to follow through with reaching our goals. 

3.    We walk ahead of God in hopes to fix or change things by ourselves.

This is where we come up with the bright and wonderful ideas failing to consult God in prayer about them first.  We think we have it all planned out and begin to do this and that, often times in vain because either we end up right back where we started or further away from the better side of things.  There really has to be a better way so that we aren’t stuck in our rut and not able to achieve our goals or the greater that He has for us. 

Throughout my Christian journey I’ve noticed times when I would have a wonderful revelation about myself (and by wonderful I don’t necessarily mean it always felt good..lol) realizing what needed to be changed and even why.  However I also found myself still stuck weeks even months later! I’ve come to understand that I can be as gung ho as I want but, if I’m ill prepared and not taking the proper steps, more often than not it will not work.  I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get really tired of traveling around the same mountain…over and over and over again!!

Isaiah 42:16 (NLV) ¹⁶ I will lead the blind by a way that they do not know. I will lead them in paths they do not know. I will turn darkness into light in front of them. And I will make the bad places smooth. These are the things I will do and I will not leave them.”

                Over time and yes, sometimes still with fail, I’ve learned to realize the change that needs to come and pray about it.  To take it to God in prayer, asking for His guidance and wisdom.  Praying that He will open my spiritual eyes and ears to hear Him and for the patience to wait on Him.  I find that when I sincerely seek Him, He is more than happy to order my steps and bring me out on the other side.  I won’t lie and say that it’s always easy or quick because it’s not.  Sometimes it’s very frustrating and even infuriating…especially when I think it’s not my wrong or I think I’m doing the best I can.  I can only control myself so my best bet is to look within and change what I can. 

Sometimes I don’t think we realize the importance of seeking God first in absolutely everything that we do.  He knows all and sees all, from beginning to end, so why do we forfeit requesting knowledge and help from someone like that??  Maybe because we think we can just fix it ourselves, maybe we think it’s such a small thing that we don’t want to bother God with it or maybe it’s just too painful to work through.  No matter what the reason, bottom line it’s our excuse!  God is so much bigger than our sins or issues and He’s just waiting on us to ask Him to lead the way. 

Lamentations 3:25 (NLT) ²⁵ The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.