Change

Change is a difficult thing isn't it? When you've lived your life the same way for so many years, trying to change is nearly impossible, especially when you are surrounded by the same environment that has helped to shape the person that you are. How do you stop doing everything that you know?
This is the challenge when choosing to follow Christ. He calls you to be different, to be not of this world. That means when all your friends are getting drunk, you are staying sober, when they are looking at women and ogling them and talking about them you are keeping quiet or if you are strong enough, telling them not to. When they are making lewd jokes and swearing you are choosing not to participate, or better yet you are walking away.
So how do you do this? How do you just quit behaving the way that you are so used to? I know i can't do it. Every day i wake up and think that today is going to be different. I'm not going to take part in these actions, these actions that i know God would not approve of. And every day i find myself wishing i were stronger. Wishing i could actually change.
I guess this is another lesson from God. I can't change. I'll never be strong enough to change. But if i let Him, he can change me, from the inside out. You see that's where the real change needs to start. Inside ourselves. If we can't change our thoughts, if we can't change our heart, then all the "good deeds" we do are worthless. Jesus mentions this in Matthew 23:27 when he is speaking to the Pharisees. He calls them out as hypocrites, declaring them white washed tombs. They are beautiful on the outside but full of dead men's bones and uncleanliness on the inside.
So we need to realize, I need to realized that only God can change what's on the inside, and He can only change it if I choose to let Him in. So Lord today i let you in, i pray that you would change my heart, and change my mind. Give me a forgiving heart, and a clean and righteous spirit. Lord be my strength, that i may rely on You always.
In Jesus Name,
Average James

On a side note, i'm going to be trying something else also. In order for the Lord to strengthen us, we need to be in fellowship with Him. So with that said, i am going to try and be in constant prayer and study of the Word. As i do, i will use this blog to keep me accountable, and share the things that the Lord has revealed to me. Wish me luck and please keep me in your prayers.