Sunday Sermonettes #053
Who has to change? Others or you? If it is you, can you change yourself? Or should you ask God to help you change?
The truth is that we like to see others change. That person you like to see change might be a real pain point in your life. But rarely do we see others change.
So what is best. Opt for you to change. This is what King David prayed:
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Will you ask God to change you?
Courage to Ask
First of all it takes courage to ask. For you cannot predict how God is going to answer that prayer. His ways and thoughts are higher than yours. He might take you through unexpected ways and bring acidic people to cross your path to change you.
Humility to Ask
Secondly, it takes humility to ask God to change you. See, most of assess ourselves to be good and perfect. So to ask God to change you means you move out of that self-sufficient stance to say, “O God, I need your help! ”
The Need for Patience
Thirdly, it takes patience on your part to wait for GOD to do his work in you. He doesn’t change you overnight. It takes a long process often. It might take months or even years. He will break the things you take pride in, before he builds you up again.
The Importance of Trust
Finally, it takes trust to ask God to change you. Let God choose the method, the means, and the people through whom he will bring about change in you. There might be seasons of darkness when no prayer of yours seem to reach God. In those times, know that God is still guiding you.
Obedience Is the Key
So now the important question is, how do you change? Often this is the difficult part. God often asks you to do little things to change. Will you obey God?
He might ask you to stop your gossip, forgive someone, change the way you dress, give sacrificially to help someone, and maybe say, “I am sorry” or a word of thanks. All these might be difficult in your situation. But change comes when you obey.
A Burning Desire to Change
And above all, God answers your prayer only when you have a burning desire to change. For God doesn’t respond to half-hearted prayers with respect to change.
When you are truly desperate he changes you even when people and circumstances in your life might remain with the same attitudes as before.
So will you pray, “O God, change me.” Then your adventure begins.
Featured image courtesy: Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay
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