I’m not sure change is ever instantaneous. I believe it takes work: commitment, diligence, patience, intentionally, understanding… and a great deal more. Repeating: it takes WORK, especially when you are trying to ‘improve’ you. And I’m convinced, at least for me, that it is never a ‘walk in the park’ and can be painful. BUT the rewards are spectacular and on the other side of the change – well worth whatever the perceived cost.
Yes, I do talk about change a great deal… partially because it impacts our lives – DAILY – in so many ways. Sometimes the change is quite subtle, sometimes it’s more like an ‘in your face’. Regardless, we deal with change every day, in some area, with varying intensity, and with lesser or greater degrees of success. When we try to stand against the change, it’s more like running water through one’s hand – and you can capture just so much of the water.
Actually… if you know what you typically do when confronted with a challenge, problem, opportunity, wonderings, etc. then this is your default – how you respond. And if your ‘default’ is prayer and/or scripture then that’s a marvelous way of understanding and responding.
“You may make your plans, but God directs your actions.” (Proverbs 16:9)
“But if any of you lack wisdom, you should pray to God, who will give it to you; because God gives generously and graciously to all.” (James 1:5)
“But the wisdom from above is pure first of all; it is also peaceful, gentle, and friendly; it is full of compassion and produces a harvest of good deeds; it is free from prejudice and hypocrisy.” (James 3:17)
‘If you wander off the road to the right or the left, you will hear His voice behind you saying, “Here is the road. Follow it.” (Isaiah 30:21)
“I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me.” (Philippians 4:13)
“Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God—what is good and is pleasing to Him and is perfect.” (Romans 12:2)
So, you can see that scripture does have a response to our need when we turn to discover the best response – and these are only representative, there are many more. You can easily understand that since we are always faced by change. It is always our decision how we respond… but if we have a methodology in place then these changes won’t overpower us.
Or… is how you respond to change based on who’s in control of the change???
