Some people just have it. They can change whatever and whenever they want. They smoke cigarettes and when it comes time to quit – they just quit. Some people they make a decision to lose weight, and six months later, they have lost over 30 pounds. Some people want to learn a new language; they sit down and start studying, and next thing you know, they are off visiting some foreign country speaking some foreign language.
You know what I think though? I really think that these people are the exception. In fact many studies have shown that change is one of the most difficult things we will attempt. Sure we can implement short term behavior changes to impress. But real sustained long term change is one of the hardest things any of us will every try to do. I believe that lasting change for most of us takes time. I also believe it takes more than just will power. True lasting change I believe is best accomplished by recognizing the need for God to be involved. In fact, for those of you familiar with the Alcoholics Anonymous, you will know that the very first step is a recognition that God is necessary as part of the process of breaking the alcohol habit. The first three steps actually read as follows:
1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol-that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
It is no wonder, then, that the famous Paul of the New Testament when he talks about change talks about how God needs to be involved in the process.
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed–not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence–continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. (Philippians 2:12-13, NIV)
Paul was very focused on the subject of change. He was a firm believer that we all needed to change. He was advocating that we change our priorities. He was suggesting that we should set the needs of others before our own. Paul advocated for humility, believing that humility would contribute to stronger and healthier relationships. For all of his suggestions for change, Paul held up Jesus as being the model, the ideal for which we should all strive. He believed that we should all change in a way so that we became more like Jesus.
I have heard some people suggest that they don’t like Christians because they think they are better than everyone else. That is a very sad commentary. I would suggest that that doesn’t match up with reality. The Christians that I know and deal with are often on the other side of things. That is to say most Christians that I spend time with know that they aren’t perfect and have a strong desire to be better, not just for themselves but so that they can help others.
Change is good for all of us. Change takes time and it involves a great deal of energy. But as noted already, real lasting change will involve a spiritual element where we ask God to show us what needs to be changed, and then to even ask him to give us the strength and determination to make the change. I am thinking that if everyone of us focused on our own need to change, we could make a tremendous impact on the world around us. In fact, if we focused on our own need to change, we probably would spend a lot less time trying to change others. Changing the world for the better and having less people trying to change me… now that sounds like a real nice change!!!