Changed

In my battle with the word “change,” lately I’ve believed lies. Here are three of them.

 “I will never change.” “You will never change.” “He or she will never change.”   

This “change is impossible” attitude is what blocks many of us from being free in certain areas and from praying for and believing for change in others.  

Not long ago a Christian man told me he had had his habit (he wouldn’t call it sin) for 52 years. Because he slipped back into this addictive behavior again and again, the enemy was trying to use the “change is impossible” lie to convince him this was his fate.

I’ve believed the same lie along the way. But the difference between this person and myself is that I tend to delve deep into the Word of God. There the theme is so often: “Change is possible with the Lord.” And as I’ve clung to the Word lately, I’ve become newly convinced.  

In practically every story we read in the Scriptures, we see people changing because of the power of God.  

Usually the transformation has to do with someone changing from a follower of the evil ways of this world to a follower of Jesus Christ.  

A fourth lie I’ve believed about change is, “I can change him or myself if I try hard enough.” When I fail—which I have again and again—I move back to the lies that say, “He will never change” and “I will never change.”

The truth is God is the only One who can change people. Only He can transform a heart. Only He can change a mind. Only He can bring beauty from ashes.

In 2 Corinthians I am told:

if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! AMP

Once we are saved, we are changed. I know my view of sin has changed even though I slip back into it. My attitude toward God has been rearranged even though I sometimes fail to obey Him. Before I knew Him, I was not bothered by my failure to do right. Now I am convicted and willing to be convinced to go His way.

When I slip away from this sense that I am changed and being changed, it is because I back off from being in Christ. I’m trying to do things on my own.  

I like what Nancy Guthrie writes in her book Abundant Life.

“My Spirit is changing you. I’m making you into a clearer reflection of me. When people look at you, I want them to think you are looking more and more like your heavenly Father day by day. The more you look at me, the more you will look like me. You look at me as you read my Word and think about what I’ve said throughout the day. Then you look like me as you begin to live out what you have read. It becomes a part of you.”

I like the line: “The more you look at me, the more you will look like me.”

There have been times when I’ve avoided looking at God—when I’ve stayed away from His Word and prayer out of hurt or disillusionment. But as I seek Him even in desperate times—especially in those times–I can sense a transformation taking place. He is changing me.

Lord, I praise You that You never change, but You are a God who is has the power to change us in miraculous ways. Help us to believe we are already changed at the spirit level just because we know You. Give us grace to cooperate with You, so we can live out the change. Deliver us from believing lies of the enemy that change is impossible. Empower us to believe that with You all things are possible. Let us remind each other of this truth often. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

“Changed” by Rascal Flatts  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVgfHz_f4Os

To hear more about being “Changed” listen to Hearts Set Free with Elaine on Saturday, August 10, 2013 at 8:00am. Go to www.wtis1110.com and press “Listen Live,” or look for the show in the archives soon.