Why We Don’t Change

What thing in your life needs to change, but hasn’t?

It may be an addiction, over eating, getting healthy, investing into others, being kind, working hard, quit procrastinating, be more generous, forgive more easily, love more - and the list could go on and on.

Why haven’t’ you changed in that particular area?

As people were dying, being killed and faced disaster in John’s Revelation, it was said: “These people did not change their hearts and turn away from murder or evil magic, from their sexual sins or stealing.” (Revelation‬ ‭9‬:‭21‬ ‭NCV‬‬)

The truth is, we can hear the truth, but for some and in some areas of our life, the truth does not set us free. Why is that?

There is an old saying I was taught in my twenties:

“There are only two reasons we don’t change. One, we are not aware of the problem, so need to change. However most don’t fit this category. “

“The second reason we don’t change is that we “are” aware of the problem, however “we are not sufficiently disturbed - yet.”

So what will it take to sufficiently disturb us to change?

Here are two profound truths about change.

One, “I the Lord do not change.” (Malachi‬ ‭3‬:‭6‬ ‭NCV‬‬) Perfection requires no change. Even when sin entered the world, God did not change. He continued to love us. Who does that?

So leaning into God who does not change is wise.

Two, “If anyone belongs to Christ, there is a new creation. The old things have gone; everything is made new!” (2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬ ‭NCV‬‬) When we fully give our lives to living as Christ, everything changes.

I suppose we could boil things down to “most problems are a gospel problem.” If we truly loved God with all and love others as ourself, and as we love and follow Christ, everything changes.

That is, if we really love God and love others. No, we will not be perfect, but we will confess our wrongs, work on change (repentance) and seek forgiveness.

Love for God and others causes us to come clean and change is birthed.

So if you are struggling, ask yourself if you are sufficiently disturbed yet. Maybe it’s time to stop distracting, avoid entertaining ourselves and maybe go deep into our heart and ask the Holy Spirit to help. He will.

Maybe it’s time to draw a line in the sand, write “start” and give it our best to finish well.

We won’t be perfect and we will fail. Just draw another line.

And when you are older, you’ll look back at all the lines. You won’t be where you want to be, but you won’t be where you were.

LORD, help us have deep self-awareness and face our fears, our pain, our weakness and confess it to you and someone who can help and hold us accountable in love. Holy Spirit, help us with our struggle and make us new. IJNIP amen ♥️