Change

Intro: When is the last time you took a good look at your life? Do you wish things in your life would change? Today let's look at what God says about the changes we might need to make. Proverbs 2:6 For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.Change begins when we face the truth about ourselves. Lamentations 3:40 (NKJV) Let us search out and examine our ways, And turn back to the Lord.

1. Take a good look at your life. Are you closer to the Lord today than you were last year at this time? Are you more intimidated by the things going on in your life and those around you? Are you weary and heavyhearted of life; feeling threatened, defenseless, helpless and overwhelmed with life's problems? Are you depressed and anxious about things? Tired of dealing with it all? Wishing you could get away from it all? Are you relying on yourself to solve all of life's problems? Do you keep making the same old mistakes in you life? If you keep doing things the same old way, you will wind up with the same old results. That's why change is necessary. For real change to take place, we must face the truth about ourselves

2. God desires change for us. Romans 8:29 (NKJV) For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. How much like Jesus are you? God our Father is continually working in our lives to change us more into the image of Christ. If we surrender to His Spirit working in us, then we can live our lives more like Jesus and handle our problems like He did, and be victorious over every situation in life. Father God wants the best for all of us. When we give up our way of doing things and obey Him, we can be assured God will help us with a new outlook on life and on it's problems. He will give us the power we need. Everything we need is found in Him and Him alone. We will never find lasting peace in this world around us, in better circumstances, or human relationships. The things in the world are constantly changing because of sin and the curse of decay and death.
3. Change begins within you. Colossians 1:27 (NKJV) To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Unless you change whats inside you and how you respond to life's problems, you'll never alter their outcome. You will continually be burdened down by your situation in life. This scripture reminds us that Christ Himself lives in us. He resides in the deepest depths of your being. He is in an eternal union with your spirit. We must learn to tap into the power of His Spirit within us if we hope for a change in our lives and to be able to overcome life's problems the way God intends for us to do. Colossians 3:15-17 (NKJV) ¹⁵ And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. ¹⁷ And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Col. 3:15 says to let the peace of God be the umpire in our lives. When we read God's word and pray with the focus of our attention on Christ's Spirit within, His peace will reign in us. That's what we are all seeking, His peace ruling in us as we handle every day situations that come into our lives, rather than living in worry, doubt, and fear. Jesus invited us to come to Him when we are burdened and heavy laden and He would give us rest. He invites us to take His yoke upon us and learn from Him and we will find rest for our souls. When we let the word about Christ dwell in us richly and allow it to become a part of us as the first part of Col. 3 verse 16 says, we will respond to life's situations in Christ's power, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. May we tap into this gold mine of power and peace that is deep within us, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. May we allow Christ's Spirit within to bear His fruit in our lives daily.                                                                        Invitation: The first change we all need is to know Christ as our personal Savior and Lord. Do you know Jesus as your Savior and Lord? If not the bible says that today is the day of salvation. Confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you and invite Him into your life to take charge of you and help you to handle all of life's problems and troubles. He will not turn you away! If you know Jesus as your Savior, His Spirit in you is the hope of glory. Look to Him for all your needs!