Real Change

If your life seems like the popular song from the last decade of "oops I did it again" then you're probably not experiencing real change.  The problem is you are "trying" to change instead of really changing.  Sometimes we try to change our life but the motivation is to avoid the consequences of our habits rather than a deep desire for a new life. The old adage of "fake it till you make it" eventually stops keeping you out of trouble because it doesn't lead to a change on the inside.  Your actions in life stem from your heart, mind and soul.  Unless those things change, there won't be any real life change . . . only fake changes that may please those around you for a while.

Real change happens when your heart, soul and mind learn to love God.  Here are a few things to think about.

HEART -  Spend time getting to know God and you will love him.  Talk to him (prayer), Read his message to you (the Bible), Listen to Him (be still and listen)

SOUL - Stop living on impulse and instead listen to your soul ("aka "conscious" "little voice in your head") telling you what the right choices are for your life.  Then . . . make the right choice.

MIND - Ask God to help you control your thought life.  Don't indulge or linger when your mind takes you to dark places.  Think good thoughts.

STRENGTH - DON'T GIVE UP!  Don't give up when you get uncomfortable, feel awkward, get bored or face a temptation.  Ask God for strength to live transformed in every situation. 

Jesus said the most important thing for you to do is to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind."  He knew this was the path to transformation.

Growing Up

Viewing painful experiences as a good thing can be extremely difficult. Losing friends over petty things can either crush you, or force you to evaluate the situation you're in. This week I've realized that a bridge may have been temporarily blocked, but it hasn't been burned... and the detour could lead me to a better destination than my expected path could have. Right now I could choose to feel sorry for myself, or I could say, "Hey. Life threw something my way, I didn't see it coming, but I'm gonna catch it and make the best of it." Maybe this loss will help me overcome insecurities, and branch out to find people who will love me for who I am. That will be a beautiful thing! Having friends that will help me and not pull me down will be a huge change, but a good one. Most of the time I'm stuck in a rut and getting out of it is hard to do when you have nobody that can help you. The same people do the same things over and over and none of us help each other. This events of this week have only given me the hope of new things. These changes will be painful, I know... but they're necessary.
After sharing my heart with a few friends tonight, they gave encouraging responses. "I think you're growing up." That was exactly what I needed to hear. For so long I've felt like I've been regressing, and it was to the point where I felt life was going absolutely nowhere. Giving up seemed like the easiest response. Who knew that more heartache would cause progress? Maybe we're all just caterpillars battling to turn into that beautiful butterfly. A struggle is necessary for strength after the transformation, and we've got to view these trials as opportunities- not barriers.

The Way Out

What controls your life?  At some point we all face the realization that we make dumb decisions that go against what we know to be right.  That point of realization comes at different times for different people but when it comes to you, you have a choice to make.  You can choose to keep doing what you've always done or you can choose the only way to truly change your life.  There is only one way to totally break free from a life where mistakes, bad decisions, and selfish motives are the driving force of your life.  The God who created you has provided a way out that leaves you with the ability to overcome your sinful nature.  That way is Jesus.  Jesus, being the Son of God, came to live among us a very long time ago.  While here on Earth he died as a sacrifice to pay the price for our sin.  For those who make the choice to follow him and put their faith in him, God makes them a new person.  He changes you from the inside out and then helps you live each day making the right decisions if you will make the choice to trust him and rely on His power.  No longer are you controlled by selfishness but instead you can live each day with the power of God that He chooses to give you because of his neverending grace.  He doesn't make you into a puppet.  You still have your free will even after you make the decision to follow God's way out.  It's definitely a journey worth taking.  Have you made that choice?

Is Honesty really the best policy?

Transforming a life takes hard core honesty with yourself, with others and with God. When manipulation and deception have become a way of life it takes honesty to break the cycle.  Dishonesty can take many forms.  In the midst of dishonesty, we convince ourselves that it is the only choice that we have.  The truth is that we always have a choice to be honest.  That DOESN'T mean that being honest will always be rewarding.  Honesty can lead to pain and broken relationships.  But it can also lead to forgivenss and restored relationships.  In the end, a lifestyle of honesty will transform your life. 

How did I get here?

If you've ever found yourself in a situation that you thought you'd never be in, you probably spent your time wondering how you can fix things or get out of trouble. Before you can find a way out, you need to think about what got you there in the first place. So, think about it. What's your story?