“All the time we are being changed to look like Him, with more and more of His shining-greatness. This change is from the Lord Who is the Spirit.”
2 Corinthians 3:18 NLV
Life is characterized by change. From the world around us with the rising and setting of the sun—the changing tides, seasons, and weather patterns—to our very own cells that are continuously regenerating.
Change is happening all of the time, and each one of us is consciously or unconsciously a participant.
Change is a law of life.
I have learned that it is not the strongest that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the most adaptable.
The same is true for thriving, successful relationships—they must adapt to changing circumstances, needs, and seasons of life.
So many people seek to create richer lives and relationships, yet continuously do the same things over and over again—they simply refuse to adapt.
“Everything is either an opportunity to grow or an obstacle to keep you from growing. You get to choose.”
—Wayne Dyer
Overcoming challenging circumstances and resolving conflicts requires you to make choices that involve change.
In fact, if you want to grow in any way, you will have to embrace your incredible, God-given power to change. Change, after all, is from the Lord. (See 2 Cor. 3:18.)
If you want to improve your life, your relationships, your career—your mind, your soul, your body—or anything at all for that matter, you will have to harness the miraculous power God has given you to change.
The fruit of change is growth.
Last week I referenced Romans 12:2, where Paul instructs believers not to be conformed, but transformed.
We hear a great deal of teaching on the importance of renewing our minds, but not so much on the directive to “be ye transformed.” What does it require to be transformed?
Transformation requires us to make a choice—to choose to change, to adapt, to adjust: To convert.
Whenever we’re told in the Bible “to do” or “to be,” that indicates a decision will have to be made.
“Today I have given you the choice…I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life!”
Deuteronomy 30:19 NLT
Oh, that you would choose to change—to be “transformed into a new creation” (Galatians 6:15).
As incredible as it may seem, many people never even consider entering into the process of change. They attempt to live cautiously, within the perceived safety of established patterns and routines. They pursue a formula they hope will protect them from failure, desperately trying to “make do” or “make something work”—be it a withering marriage, a dead-end job, or even an addiction.
Are you someone who repeats the same dead-end patterns day after day?
Sadly, maintaining the status quo seems to be the primary aim for most people. Most will go to great lengths to avoid “rocking the boat.”
Yet, if you want to make a splash in life, you’ll have to rock some boats!
And if you really hope to make waves, you’ll have to become a serious change maker—and that will require you to make some serious changes.
The more changes you are willing to make, whether creating new habits, learning to skills, or cultivating new relationships, the more capacity you will build.
Change builds capacity.
Don’t be afraid of change.
Harness the power to change so you can do more of what you love for whom you love; so you can maximize your potential to fulfill your purpose, be of greater service, leave a legacy, and be that history maker you were born to be.
Garner the courage to:
- believe change is possible
- trust yourself to change
- move from the familiar to the unfamiliar
- open your mind to new possibilities
- cooperate with the process of change
- feel vulnerable during times of change
- let go of old habits
- face new, unforeseen challenges
- be the change you want to see in the world
What if you knew for certain that a particular change would lead to greater freedom, fulfillment, and joy? What if you could put aside any fear of failure, disappointment, or rejection?
What would it take for you to more fully embrace your power to change?
The greatest gift you can give yourself is the gift of change.
And the greatest skill you can acquire is that of learning to manage change. Yet, the secret to successfully managing change, is simply accepting that you must change.
When you change, you will find so does the situation. That is really all we are called to do. As Mahatma Gandhi so famously said, “We must be the change we wish to see.”
Dr. Viktor Frankl, a holocaust survivor, echoed this by stating, “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”
“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”
—Rumi
So what do you need to do to change?
Could things be the way they are because you are the way you are? What one thing can you change that will change everything?
Although you cannot go back in life to restart your beginning, you can start today to create a new ending.
How? By harnessing the power to change.
“See, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not be aware of it?”
Isaiah 43:19 MEV