God bless you in the name of Jesus Christ, into whose image we are to be conformed (Romans 8:29).
Change is part of our lives, and we should get used to it. But, oh what a glory it is!
II Corinthians 3:18:
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Becoming more Christ-like is a daily adventure, and it should be very commonplace as we grow and mature spiritually. Change is evidence of life; it is impossible to grow without it. Growth often begins with changing our minds, thinking what the Word of God says. Those who do not change their minds do not change much of anything else.
We cannot become what we are destined to be by remaining as we are. John Patterson said, “Only fools and dead men don’t change their minds. Fools won’t. Dead men can’t.” We all need to change. As we change, so will our opportunities. Progress happens when we are dissatisfied with the status quo. We don’t let well enough alone. We aren’t satisfied with OK. We mustn’t be afraid to change. Change is not our enemy—it’s our friend. For the future to get better we must change.
Jeremiah 29:11: [NIV]
‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’
God has deposited His ideas, plans, and desires within our hearts. He has a beautiful course laid before each of us just waiting to be discovered. Today, we have in our hearts, interests, hopes, and dreams, many of them are truly inspired by God. He is the One Who planted them in us like a seed. Now, He expects us to unwrap them, nurture them, believe and receive them. He wants His plans to become our plans and His ways to become our ways.
The hopes and dreams that God gives us can be grasped, understood, and cultivated. God will help us form our vision through reading the Word of God, gathering data, making us discontent with the status quo, (Hybels calls it a “holy discontent”) praying, and by waiting on the Lord.
Fire is a consuming force that once ignited can intensify and grow. As we allow God to ignite within us His vision, purpose, and dreams for our life, it will begin to intensify and grow like a fire in our bones until it completely consumes our very being. Most people are afraid of that happening.
Most people are afraid to give themselves completely to the will of God because they are not sure what awaits them there. They want to serve God, but only in an advisory capacity. They want to be volunteers not slaves. We are called to be slaves, “douloses.” Most want to do what they want when they want to do it. After all, God may ask them to do that which they would rather not. It takes some maturity to go from “God give me fun things I like to do” to “God give me whatever needs to be done.”
Let’s enjoy our journey doing whatever God lays in our path. As we walk in the steps of our Lord Jesus Christ, we will find lots of opportunities to serve and grow in the grace and the knowledge that’s in him (II Peter 3:18). Why not? We are God’s best and certainly God blessed.