A thought by Rick Warren from his book. God's Power to Change Your Life (Living with Purpose) (p. 19). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)
I know, I know there are a lot of things that we want to change headed into a new year, but it is so hard, isn’t it?
Rick asks, “How would you complete this sentence: ‘It’s just like me to — ‘? It’s just like me to be late all the time? It’s just like me to be unable to stay on a diet? It’s just like me to put my foot in my mouth? It’s just like me to blow up, to be depressed, to get angry? I’m sure you are well aware of the parts of your personality you would change if you could.”
He then says, “God uses a two-step process to change us. The first step is explained in 2 Corinthians 5:17: ‘If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!’ The initial turning point is when we commit our lives to Christ. We are not the same anymore; a new life has begun. This is why the Bible calls that step being ‘born again.’ Being born again doesn’t mean we are reincarnated; it simply means we get a chance to start over. It is not turning over a new leaf, but getting a new life, a fresh start. It is a new beginning with a big difference. We now have a new nature and the indwelling Holy Spirit. A set of ‘spiritual batteries’ is included to provide the power! That makes all the difference in the world.
“Being born again, like being born the first time, is only the beginning. It is followed by a lifelong process described in Romans 12:2. J. B. Phillips paraphrases the verse this way: ‘Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.’…When the Holy Spirit controls your life, he will produce in you nine positive characteristics: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
Rick goes on, “How many of the people you work with or live with exhibit these qualities? How many of the people you work with or live with would say these qualities describe you? The sad fact is that rather than loving others, we often are unloving. Rather than living joyously, we feel defeated, depressed, and discouraged. Rather than experiencing peace, we feel uptight and pressured. Rather than being patient, we are frustrated and irritated. Instead of showing kindness, it’s every man for himself. Instead of modeling goodness, we often feel there is nothing good about ourselves. Instead of being faithful, we neglect our commitments. We are more likely to respond to others in anger or resentment than in gentleness. And instead of practicing self-control, we watch our lives falling apart.
“These are the contrasts between letting the power of God work in our lives and relying on our own power. We must remember, however, that the fruit of the Spirit isn’t something we work up. It’s something that God produces in us when we fully trust him with our lives.”
Why don’t you connect to his power today and let him change you from the inside out? That would be a very good thing to do, wouldn’t it?
Yes, yes!
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