Change

"Do not [earnestly] remember the former things; neither consider the days of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing!" Isaiah 43:18-19

Thoughts of change may conjure up images in our minds of either fear, dread or maybe to some, anticipation or excitement. Some welcome change and others would rather avoid it.

Although we may look at change with trepidation and anxiety, God is asking all of us to welcome it. We will never become all God has planned for us to be, if we are not willing to leave the past or leave the way we've always done it and be ready to embrace a new day. Why is it that God planned to have day and night, seasons and years? Could it possibly be that we need beginnings and endings, change and variety? A lot of times, a new day brings with it a new perspective on life.

We need to make decisions about letting go of the past, letting go of control and embracing the 'new thing' that is for us. If we do what we've always done, we'll get what we've always got. Unless we refuse to let go of the way we've been, no change will come.

I've been through a lot of changes in my 30-odd years. Some of the change has brought about the most excruciating pain in the depths of my being, pain that I wanted to go away. But as I dealt with some of the issues that I had, there comes a release of the old and new begins to grow. The old stagnant me has started to emerge and grow and blossom. The pain is worth the gain.

Joyce Meyer says "Seldom do your circumstances change without first changing in you." If your circumstances are unlovely, then let the change begin in you and you will discover that either the circumstances will change or you will change to be able to handle the circumstances.

James says in verse 17 of chapter 3 that 'wisdom that is from above is ...willing to yield'. Our will is an obstacle that we need to overcome! It is when we can say to our flesh to settle down, be quiet and be willing, we can embrace change. That is a big pill to swallow! However, when we can take the 'medicine' of God's Word and be willing to receive correction and alignment and change, we will yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness.

Oh Lord, we yearn to harvest the fruit of righteousness in our lives. We embrace change because you have designed us to change and grow and mature. We choose to embrace the changes you want to do in our hearts, even though it may cause pain, we know that You are our great Surgeon and You want to see us whole, pure and transformed by the power of Your Love. We declare that this is a NEW YEAR, a NEW BEGINNING, the Start of Change in our lives and hearts. We look forward with anticipation to what you have planned and in the meantime, we will draw from Your strength as You change and renew our hearts.

Praise God!! I am believing with you for great changes this year, for answers to health problems and restitution in your families as you are willing to embrace change.