Time For Change

Penelope Stokes in Words In Season wrote, “The trouble with turning over a new leaf is that once you’ve done it twice, you’re right back where you started.”I recently read that more bad habits are broken in the month of January than during any other month. And yet that same article pointed out that only a small percentage of New Year’s resolutions are realized long-term.I’d like to encourage you. Change in your life is not only possible, it is necessary. When Christians stop growing, they stagnate. You know those grumpy, never-do-anything pessimistic Christians? Somewhere along the line, they stopped growing. People stop growing when they refuse to change.This happens for a number of reasons. Sometimes it happens because of self-righteousness – “I’m good enough!” Sometimes it happens because of apathy – “What does it matter if I get victory over this?” Sometimes it happens because of defeatism – “I’ll never be able to change.”We have a little saying at The Bridge: “No one is expected to be perfect, but everyone is expected to grow.” And that growth demands positive change – gradual, yes, but continual progressive change. The Bible refers to this constant pattern of growth as “sanctification.” And all of us need to be involved in the process.So what do you need to change? (If you have trouble answering, just ask someone close to you!) For some of us this may mean replacing an old bad habit with something good. For others it may mean readjusting a pessimistic attitude or refocusing on a relationship. Perhaps it has something to do with our spending habits or time management. For all of us, I trust it means a renewed commitment to God – our daily personal time with Him and the weekly service we give to Him.Don Shelby proclaimed in his sermon, Never Say ‘Never,’ “When we tell ourselves ‘I can never change,’ or ‘That will never happen,’ we presume too much and believe too little. In Jesus Christ, God renders all of our final conclusions premature and all of our talk of determinism as simply bad faith. In Christ, God opens closed doors, brings resurrection, reveals possibilities, reclaims the lost, liberates the cursed and possessed, and changes the unchangeable.”You can change! Isn’t it about time?“And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like Him and reflect His glory even more.” – 2 Cor. 3:18