When we look at the idea of changing anything in our lives, it's only going to work if our change of behavior, attitude, opinion, good intention, lasts longer than the usual millisecond that we often work in.
Real change lasts! Effective change takes the person committing to a process of change.
For example, the apostle Paul didn't just meet up with Jesus in an amazing encounter, go on to Damascus and three days later was out looking for Christians to persecute!
The same is true for us, if we set ourselves this week to believe for change, then we must add some work to our faith!
It's the fact that having faith alone, does not prove anything unless we back up our belief with the appropriate actions necessary to bring about the desired result!
Take for example the scripture in James 2:14-19 that talks about a believer who sees a man lying in the cold hungry and destitute and says to him "Depart friend, be no longer hungry and feel warm but doesn't give the man any food or clothes or money!”
The question gets asked about this particular believer, if his faith is real?
I'm asking you today as you read this and are involved with the idea of seeing change in your life, Is your faith real?!
If it is, then you need to start putting some work to your faith.
When the people who Peter was preaching to on the day of Pentecost received his words and wanted change, Peter said to them to repent of their former ways and to be baptised in the name of Jesus and then to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
All of these things required an action from the people, firstly they repented, which involves asking Gods forgiveness and turning away from the way they had been living before this point. Changing behavior isn't easy, for most people who've been doing something perhaps for years, it takes a commitment to no longer continue what they were doing.
That's why I say this week is a start, but you need to be prepared to create a new habit that no longer includes walking in the bad behavior patterns or attitudes or mindsets, as that's what brings effective change!
When you let God really touch your heart and allow him to start to effect you, your behavior changes.
People could no longer recognise Saul who became Paul. They kept saying, isn't this the guy who came here to Damascus to lock up these Christians? But here he is trying to convince all of us to join them! What's going on here?
What was going on was that Saul had become a different person!
He met Jesus and such was the impact on his life, he turned a 360 degree change and ran with that.
This week is about realigning our life's course back on track with God.
Some crazy shooting vine branches are being pruned back into line with where they should be growing. Some wayward hearts are turning this week back to a love of God and doing things his way. Some hungry souls are being fed and some prisoners are being set free.
All of this is taking place as you allow Gods word and spirit effect you, so that the change that he's trying to bring to you, lasts longer than a day, or a week but makes of you a new man and woman.
Let God really change you this week. Allow him to effect you for good and you will become a new man and woman as you find that doing things Gods way brings incredible peace, joy and freedom to every part of you!
Written by Dade