27th JANUARY 2022
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God – Romans 12:2
Everything in the world will change, except three things; Change itself, God and His word. That is because God is the ultimate perfection, and He is immutable. (Malachi 3:6). God wants us to be like Him in character traits such as love, mercy, kindness, justice, and wisdom. Indeed, God does not change, but His methods of dealing with human beings have significantly changed. For instance, shifting us from the old to the new covenant.
Again, as we see from today’s scripture, the Christian life is an ongoing series of changes as we grow in knowledge, faith and holiness (1 Peter 1:16; Hebrews 12:14). We grow in Christ (2 Peter 3:18), which requires change, which means we should be willing to change our minds and lifestyles to meet God’s standards.
The idea of praying to change God’s will is presumptuous, and Jesus set the example in Gethsemane when He prayed for God’s will to be done, not His own. Perhaps prayer should be used not to change God’s will but to discover his will, then conform our will to His.
Change is fundamental in life to enable us to achieve success. But people refuse positive changes because they believe they will lose something of value or fear, and they may not adapt to the new ways.
When we change with a positive attitude, we learn to let go of our set ways and become flexible. We learn to adapt to new people, environments, roles, and situations. In the long run, being flexible leads to more happiness and less stress.
Change allows us to move forward in life and experience new and exciting things.
PRAYER
In the name of Jesus Christ, Father grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
FURTHER READING: Proverbs 6:22; Psalm 25:5