HEAVENSREEF

I am learning that some change for me is very hard.  And if I really like something or someone that I am loyal to, then changing things up on me doesn’t sit well with me.  Some people love change, they are energized by it.

Just this past week I have had to say goodbye to two things that I loved so very much.  One was my amazing dental hygienist who told me that was my last time with her, since she was moving to California.  Another was hearing about the closure of my favorite store.  Lifeway Christian is closing all their stores around the country.   I enjoyed going there for any gift I needed and all their selection on books and bibles was just what I was looking for……..Lifeway was my happy place!

Learning this news on both fronts had me thinking:  what do I do now?  Life is like this!  Disappointments touch us deeply and leave us feeling uncertain and off balance.

One thing we cannot change……..is change itself!  The more we want life to stay as it is, the more we will find it changing.

But what about change within us?  Should we consider the fact that as Christians we must be open to change, but even more important, shouldn’t we seek to trust GOD’S process that brings about this change?

Scripture says this:

1 CORINTHIANS 11: 28 “LET A PERSON EXAMINE HIMSELF.”

We are to take stock of where we are spiritually, seeing if we are growing into maturity in CHRIST……with HIM and through HIS grace for us.

When Paul was addressing the Church in Corinth he reminded them of this:

1 CORINTHIANS 14: 20 “BROTHERS AND SISTERS, DON’T BE CHILDISH IN YOUR THINKING, BUT BE INFANTS IN REGARD TO EVIL AND ADULT IN YOUR THINKING.”

Our process and our spiritual journey will change us inside and move us in the direction of spiritual maturity if we trust the process and if we trust JESUS to “do a good work in us.”

There is a scripture promise we need to hold onto with everything in our being…….

PHILIPPIANS 1:6 “I AM SURE OF THIS, THAT HE WHO STARTED A GOOD WORK IN YOU WILL CARRY IT ON TO COMPLETION UNTIL THE DAY OF CHRIST JESUS.”

Remember these powerful words my friends, especially when you get discouraged.  The New Living Translation says these words this way:

PHILIPPIANS 1: 6 “AND I AM CERTAIN THAT GOD, WHO BEGAN THE GOOD WORK WITHIN YOU, WILL CONTINUE HIS WORK UNTIL IT IS FINALLY FINISHED ON THE DAY WHEN CHRIST JESUS RETURNS.”

This scripture is certain that one day we will be complete! 

But until that day…….we have to realize that we are incomplete!  Did you know?  We are, as much as we might not like it, knee deep in the process of change on the inside, while our hearts and minds are fixed on the ONE who never changes!  We are on a journey to completion!

How often do we attempt to change others, instead of looking inside of ourselves, ditching the pride we have and humbly asking the LORD to: change our hearts!  Our only desire should be to become more like JESUS!

So let us keep our eyes fixed on the unchanging ONE who controls all change!  When we do this, our souls grow into maturity.  When we long for “pure spiritual milk” we grow up in our salvation and we are in the process of becoming a complete package for the Kingdom.  The LORD sees us as this complete package…….but we have to desire to get there!

This kind of change should be something we want more than anything!  This change, to become more Christlike, should be the ultimate desire of our hearts and our souls.  

Developing a sensitive spirit to allow change within us, can only be accomplished through trusting GOD to do it………trusting the ONE who never changes and who is always good!

Who do you trust?  Our changing world or the changeless CHRIST?  One is absolutely secure forever and the other is rapidly changing before our eyes. One secures the key to the Kingdom, while the other throws away the key to all happiness and complete security.  One gives life, the other throws it away.

Let’s trust the process and grow in the knowledge that when GOD has us, HE will change us.  You can bank on it and why?

BECAUSE HE LOVES US WITH AN UNCHANGING MERCIFUL LOVE.

Therefore, trust the process and trust HIS provision and purpose for you, but most of all, trust in HIS power!  Then we will continue to walk with perseverance in the Spirit’s power, as HE changes our hearts, minds and souls.  This process is worth it!  Change within is good!  Let GOD change you into the mature soul that knows one day, that you will stand before HIM, mature and complete, lacking in nothing!

2 TIMOTHY 1: 9 “HE HAS SAVED US AND CALLED US WITH A HOLY CALLING, NOT ACCORDING TO OUR WORKS, BUT ACCORDING TO HIS OWN PURPOSE AND GRACE, WHICH WAS GIVEN TO US IN CHRIST JESUS BEFORE TIME BEGAN.”