APPRECIATE AND EMBRACE CHANGE
SCRIPTURE: ROMANS 12:2 (TPT)
”Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think.This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.”
The progress of your christian life depends on how you constantly change your thinking so that your whole life can manifest Christ Jesus more and more. This is what renewing the mind is all about. The renewing of the mind practically deals with the changing of your thinking or mentality with the Word of God so that it will influence your day to day behaviour and cause you to manifest Christlike behaviour or the fruit of the Spirit more and more.
That is why you must understand the word “change.” A good understanding of the principle of change will help you to embrace it better and maximise it on daily basis for your own progress with the help of the Holy Spirit.
The word change means to make different, to shift from one to another, to alter, modify, revise or transform. To some it means work. To others, it’s a welcome opportunity to a better life in Christ Jesus. The difference between a living thing and a dead thing is seen by the many changes living things go through. Change therefore is an evidence of life.
The fact of the matter is that, “it is impossible to grow without change.” This is one very basic truth I want to remind you of.
Every word of God that you and I receive will often demand that you and I change or revise something in your life for that word to come to pass and bring us progress. Even though a lot of disciples of Christ sincerely desire progress, the unfortunate thing is that they can’t have it without change, especially with their thinking. The willingness to change is one thing and the readiness to change is quite another thing. Infact, when you think about it well, you will realize that change must be your great friend and ally especially as a believer.
Today’s verse teaches us clearly about change. It is the change or transformation that is required to take place in your life as you renew your thinking with God’s Word. This is part of the process that helps you grow into Christlikeness. Christlikeness is about his character and power. As a disciple of Christ you must walk in and manifest both the character and power of Christ Jesus. How does this happen? How does your thinking and life change?
This is where God’s Word plays a major role. The hearing, reading and studying of the Word is the beginning. The understanding and application of the Word then follows. The result is a more fruitful Christian life that reveals His character and power. The person who never changes his or her opinions and thinking can never correct his or her mistakes and make improvements in life.
There is therefore no progress without change. There is no success without change. Welcome to a glorious life of ongoing change in Christ Jesus. Don’t fight it. Embrace it and work with it. Your life can’t remain the same.
PRAYER
Father, I thank you for a better understanding of change. I am more aware now that my life will get better in every way as I embrace change by working on my thinking. I am confident of progress especially because of the help of the indwelling Holy Spirit. My expectations will not be cut off. Victory is mine in Jesus’ name. Amen.
FURTHER READING
(NKJV)
ECCLESIASTES 3:1-6
[1]To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:
[2]A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted;
[3]A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up;
[4]A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance;
[5]A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;
[6]A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away;