How do I Change?

Everyone wants his or her life to be fulfilling and successful.  Do you know where you are going in life? What is it that you want, desire and hope for most in life? Do you know your purpose and your destiny? These are questions you should ask yourself for you to know the reason for living while on this earth. Genesis 1:27 says “God created man in His own image”. Ephesians 5:1 says “Be imitators of God”. Your purpose in life is to become more like Jesus and to reflect the glory of God. Your destiny is your eternal value and primary purpose why you are here.

How does God go about changing us to be His image bearers? “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what, is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go” (Isaiah 48:17). You can be confident God has a plan worked out for you even through setbacks and difficult times. In James 1:2-5 says “Consider it pure joy my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” When we are mature and complete, we are taking on the character of Christ. We are becoming more like Him; more loving, joyful, forgiving, peaceful, and self-controlled.

In Ephesians 1:7-9 says “Keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the generous Father, may give you the Spirit of Wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray also that the eyes of the heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His incomparably great power for us who believe.”  God uses the trials and difficulties that each of us face to mold and shape us into His character and we can freely ask for His wisdom so that we know our purpose and the hope for which He has called us to.    

When we ask God for help, change starts in the heart and the healing process begins. In Paul’s letter to Ephesians he prays that the “eyes of the heart would be enlightened.”  The author of Chronicles says: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). 

All of our dreams and desires reside in the heart. Ephesians 3:20 says, "God is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes!"  We need a healing and change in our will. Our will, what we wish, hope for and want, needs renewal. We need to change from what we desire to what God desires. When we humble ourselves, God changes the heart. Instead of a life of anxiety we have joy. Instead of chaos, we have a peace beyond understanding. In Jeremiah 32:27 God says, "I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?"  

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1). God wants us to have an eternal perspective. “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace and to be thankful (Colossians 3:15). The condition of the heart determines the quality of our relationships.  

Change starts in the heart and change continues as we renew the mind. “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:2).  The Bible tells us to renew our minds and to think on heavenly things and not the things of the world. We are unable to grow because we continue to repeat the same mistakes. “You were taught , with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24). Renewing the mind challenges our old ways of thinking. We need to change our distorted thinking to understanding Godly principles of His truth. “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” Psalm 119:105.   

We have power over our lives with the words that we speak. The mouth can get us into trouble and words can also get us out of trouble. “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Col 4:6). There is a direction to freedom. “The mouth of the upright will deliver them” (Proverbs 12:6). “The tongue of the wise brings healing.” (Proverbs 12:18). Words create, shape and form our world. Words become sentences. Sentences become messages. Messages become experiences and our experiences in life become our life’s lessons. “From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things” (Proverbs 12:14). “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21).

We can verbalize God’s promises and blessings to strengthen and comfort us. In that way, we say what we hear so we can see what we say. It becomes a confession of our faith. “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11). Speak God’s Word in the name of Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit into your life concerning your particular situation. Declare a fresh new blessing into your life. God wants you to be free and to enjoy all that He has planned for you. Use your words wisely. Pray and speak His Word into your life.

Believe it, think it, and say it

Speak your confession of faith. “The Word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, that is, the Word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved” Romans 10:8-10. Pray the Word: My God shall supply all of my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Phil 4:19).