Change Is a Choice

In Ephesians 4:22 I read, “Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.” (NLT)

Change requires making choices. It’s not enough to dream of changing or to desire change. I need to make a decision. I must choose to change.

Change is intentional. Are I going to be any different in six months? Am I going to be better a year from now? Am I going to be healthier, stronger, and more mature? Am I going to be happier? Am I going to be less in debt? Am I going to be more like God wants me to be?

These changes will only happen if I choose to change, because change doesn’t happen accidentally. Change requires a choice.

A lot of times I think I'm waiting on God to change me. No! God is waiting on me. He’s waiting for me to say, “Yes, Lord, I’m willing to make these changes.”

I will need to make intentional choices in order to grow. There is no growth without change, there is no change without loss, and there is no loss without pain. If I’m going to grow, I’ll have to change. And change means I let go of some old things in order to grab hold of some new things.

It’s like swinging on a trapeze. The trapeze artist swings out on one bar and then has to reach out and grab the other one. At some point, he’s got to let go of one to grab on to the other, or he’s not going to make it to the other side. If he thinks he can hold on to both, what happens? He gets stuck in the middle, and he’s going to fall.

I may be stuck in the middle, and I’m falling because I haven’t let go of the old patterns, habits, and old ways of thinking. I have to let go of my old ways.

The Bible says, “Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life” (Ephesians 4:22 NLT). In other words, let it go. Those old habits, hurts, patterns, and sins in my life, need to be let go. The Bible says to throw them off and trust that God is working in me “to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13 NIV).

In summary, I need to throw off my old sinful nature and former way of life, which was corrupted by lust and deception. This requires change and change requires making choices. It’s not enough to dream of changing or to desire change. I need to make a decision. I must choose to change. Change is intentional. Changes will only happen if I choose to, because it won’t happen accidentally. A lot of times I think I'm waiting on God to change me. No! God is waiting on me. He’s waiting for me to admit my willingness and say, “Yes, Lord, I’m willing to make these changes.” There is no growth without change, there is no change without loss, and there is no loss without pain. If I’m going to grow, I’ll have to change. It means I let go of some old things in order to grab hold of some new things. I may be stuck in the middle, and falling because I haven’t let go of the old patterns, habits, and old ways of thinking. Old habits, hurts, patterns, and sins in my life, need to be let go. The Bible says to throw them off and trust that God is working in my life.

My old way of life before I believed in Christ are now completely in the past. I should put it behind me like old clothes to be thrown away. I should no longer be driven by desire and impulse. I must embrace my new nature, head in a new direction and to have the new way of thinking that the Holy Spirit in my life will provide.

Father, thank you for Your Word and Jesus as my savior and example. You want me and I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. Help me to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me. 

Father, help me to recognize and let go of old habits and ways of thinking. Help me to move forward with the decision on my own and know that you are working in me to bring about the character in me that will help to advance your kingdom.

Today, I ask for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in my new job.  I pray all these things through you Son Jesus’ name, Amen.