First and foremost, Happy New Years to everyone! It’s an honor and a blessing to write a new blog post, the first post of the year. I regretfully haven’t posted in a while as the past few months have been hectic in between school and work. But as I will discuss in today’s post, it was either now or never.
As we enter a New Year, many people are making New Year’s resolutions, a list of changes they want to make, habits they wish kick and a plan they have to begin getting the most out of life. Many people who have made lists in past years can tell you they changed for a while but some fell back into their old ways. This is an unfortunate thing for them, but it’s even more unfortunate when you tell people you made a list only for them to respond with how you won’t achieve anything on your list and by making one, you’re just wasting your time. If someone desires to change, who are we are to discourage them? And as believers of Christ, is it godly for us to respond in such manner?
New Year or not, when is the best time to make a change—now or never?
To answer this question, there are three points of discussion to consider.
1. When will you die and depart this Earth?
Change NOW as tomorrow may NEVER come.
2. Why do we even decide to make changes in our life to begin with?
Generally speaking, for any situation where we make changes, we do so because we realize that the old way wasn’t working. We make changes because we see a new way of doing things that can bring about the most desirable results. In the cliché sense, we change for the better because better is always good. Right?
Well as believers in Christ, we must know that the changes we make in our life must be motivated by God. Change is not only for good but it can also be for excellent when that change is helping us to honor God more and bring glory to his kingdom.
1 Corinthians 15:58 The Amplified Version reads “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm (steadfast), immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord [always being superior, excelling, doing more than enough in the service of the Lord], knowing and being continually aware that your labor in the Lord is not futile [it is never wasted or to no purpose].”
Steadfast, according to Merriam-Webster, means to be firm in belief, have determination, or adhere and be loyal to something. When this verse commands us to be steadfast, it declares that we be determined in living for Christ, regardless of what others are doing or not doing. Everything we do, therefore including the changes we wish to make, serves a purpose. Again as believers, our purpose and our changes are to be motivated with God in mind.
3. Doesn’t God, the creator of the universe, have the power to help us accomplish anything?
Philippians 4:13 King James Version says “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me”. Not just some, or a few things, or minor things, but all things, even the most unimaginable things, God can give us the strength to endure and accomplish the desires of heart that work toward the building of his kingdom. God holds all power and his design ensures that all things work together for the good. To receive this strength, we must first believe that God holds our strength to change. Secondly we must ask to receive it our strength and finally we must wait patiently for what God has in mind regarding our change. Change we like to think is for the good. But it’s God’s change that works best.
In closing, look at Philippians 2:14-15 (Amplified Version)
14 Do all things without grumbling and faultfinding and complaining [against God] and questioning and doubting [among yourselves],
15 That you may show yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish (faultless, unrebukable) in the midst of a crooked and wicked generation [spiritually perverted and perverse], among whom you are seen as bright lights (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the [dark] world,
If you decide to make a change for the New Year, I encourage you and support you. Whatever your change, big or small, God is looking for you as a believer to demonstrate to unbelievers the joy and victory they can have in all aspects of life.
Take heed to Philippians 2:14-15 and don’t find reasons why you can’t make a change. Instead, ask God to strengthen you and see you through. Most importantly ask God to help you use the changes you’re making to cross benefit his kingdom.
For example, I am asking God to help me read and understand scripture better, but I am also asking him to help me tell others what I read in a way that they can understand and apply to their lives as well.
Be Blessed. And #StayPrayedUpPeople
When will you change?
