How to Make a Change
by Scott Basham, BibleSteak Contributor
God tells us there is a need to change.
Romans 12:1-2: Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18: Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 3:18: And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Philippians 1:6: being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Self doubts is natural and common.
There is also plenty in our life that needs changing - and God would agree! Here's a few of God's requests for us:
The beginning of the year is the time many people plan to change, using our New Year's Resolutions.
Is it possible to change? It must be, for throughout Scripture that is what God asks of us.
We are asked to change, but change is hard!
Are you comfortable? Even when we value change, change is harder that putting up with the discomfort
There is a movie from 1998 called "The Legend of 1900". It tells the story of a man that, as an infant, was found on an ocean liner by an engine-room worker. He was named 1900 after the year of his birth. From infancy to adulthood, 1900 spends his entire life on the sea. By his teenage years, 1900 emerges as a brilliant pianist. But, he lives in fear of the new, the different, and the unknown, basically anything off the ship. His talent could make him famous. Love, adventure, success, and a place to call home await 1900 on land, but he is crippled by his inability to leave the ship.
On one cruise, 1900 falls in love with a young woman. Eventually the ship docks, and his love departs for the city. 1900 is faced with the decision to follow his love or stay safely aboard ship. He begins to walk ashore. Halfway across the gangplank, he freezes for a long period of time. Finally, 1900 turns and reenters the ship. His decision is made. The world is just too large, too frightening, too unknown. 1900 settles for what is familiar and comfortable.
Just because we see the wisdom of change doesn't mean that change will happen.
But here is the commandment from God:
So, there are things we would like to change. But how do we make it happen?
How to Make a Change
God tells us there is a need to change.
Romans 12:1-2: Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18: Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 3:18: And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Philippians 1:6: being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Self doubts is natural and common.
- Moses had self doubts.
- Exo 5:22 — Then Moses returned to the LORD and said, "O Lord, why have You brought harm to this people? Why did You ever send me?
- Peter had self doubts.
- Luke 5:8 — But when Simon Peter saw {that,} he fell down at Jesus' feet, saying, "Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!"
There is also plenty in our life that needs changing - and God would agree! Here's a few of God's requests for us:
- Psalms 37:8 — Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret; {it leads} only to evildoing.
- Proverbs 23:4 — Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, Cease from your consideration {of it.}
- Proverbs 6:24-25 — To keep you from the evil woman, From the smooth tongue of the adulteress.
Do not desire her beauty in your heart, Nor let her capture you with her eyelids.
- Philippians 4:6 — Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
The beginning of the year is the time many people plan to change, using our New Year's Resolutions.
Is it possible to change? It must be, for throughout Scripture that is what God asks of us.
- Romans 12:2 — And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
- Ephesians 4:22-24 — that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,
and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
and put on the new self, which in {the likeness of} God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
We are asked to change, but change is hard!
- Gen 12:1 — Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father's house, To the land which I will show you;
- A person back then would be raised and grow old with all the family together - his leaving would be leaving his family.
- Most of us become very comfortable with life as we know it, and resist change. Because we don't like change, when change is forced upon us, it can shake our foundation.
Are you comfortable? Even when we value change, change is harder that putting up with the discomfort
There is a movie from 1998 called "The Legend of 1900". It tells the story of a man that, as an infant, was found on an ocean liner by an engine-room worker. He was named 1900 after the year of his birth. From infancy to adulthood, 1900 spends his entire life on the sea. By his teenage years, 1900 emerges as a brilliant pianist. But, he lives in fear of the new, the different, and the unknown, basically anything off the ship. His talent could make him famous. Love, adventure, success, and a place to call home await 1900 on land, but he is crippled by his inability to leave the ship.
On one cruise, 1900 falls in love with a young woman. Eventually the ship docks, and his love departs for the city. 1900 is faced with the decision to follow his love or stay safely aboard ship. He begins to walk ashore. Halfway across the gangplank, he freezes for a long period of time. Finally, 1900 turns and reenters the ship. His decision is made. The world is just too large, too frightening, too unknown. 1900 settles for what is familiar and comfortable.
Just because we see the wisdom of change doesn't mean that change will happen.
But here is the commandment from God:
- Lamentations 3:40 — Let us examine and probe our ways, And let us return to the LORD.
So, there are things we would like to change. But how do we make it happen?
How to Make a Change
- Write down what you want to change. This solidifies that you want to make a change.
- Visualize what your life would be like if you changed.
- Divide big goals into small tasks, and write them down. How do you eat an elephant - one bite at a time. Make sure your small taaks are not too big for the long haul. Make them realistic.
- Don't delay. Take the first bite tomorrow.
- Make a quick note every day of what was done and rate your day from 1-10.
- All work has ups and downs. Do not regard downs as failures, just part of the process. Every day will not be a 10.
- Try different things - be agile - make adjustments as needed.
- Find a model person, who is further along than you on each goal. See that they did it, which means you can too. Don't select people too far beyond your reach (e.g. world class achievers). It could be someone famous, or someone you know.
- Accept that change takes some work. It won't happen comfortably, going with the flow of your life - you will have to swim upstream.
- Don't rely on emotion or passion to get it done. That will not last. You need to just do it, because you won't want to. To help with making the change pray about it, trust God for help, and memorize Scripture related to it. Listen to the Holy Spirit as He guides you.