The Cost (and Reward) of True Change
“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” – 2 Corinthians 5:17
If you want to see positive change in your life, it’s going to require you to do something differently.
This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s worth mentioning. Many of us want to experience the impact of change in our health, our jobs, our marriages, and other essential life domains, but we aren’t willing to do the work necessary to make it happen. As the old adage goes, insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
For example, I can’t imagine only working out twice yearly and magically stumbling into excellent physical condition. If I want to lose this stubborn belly fat, I must say no to late-night snacking and carve out time in my busy schedule to get to the gym a few times a week.
If I want to run a half marathon, I don’t just wake up one day and sign up for a race. I have to commit to regular running and gradual increases in distance until I have conditioned my body to withstand 13.1 miles. Otherwise, I’ll risk significant injury – especially at my age!
We understand these things when it comes to our physical bodies and health. So, why is it hard for us to accept that we have to adjust the way we do things when it comes to non-physical changes if we want to see different results?
If I want to grow deeper in my faith, I can’t expect to throw up a prayer once a week when I’m frustrated or anxious about something and hope that it impacts my life. I must commit to carving out time daily to read the Bible and pray regularly to connect with God on a deeper spiritual level. If I want to grow in my understanding of truth and how to apply it so it affects my life for the good, I have to commit to going to church more than twice a year to grow deeper in relationships that will encourage, uplift, and sharpen my faith.
Perhaps you stand at a crossroads. Maybe you’ve recognized the way you’ve lived your life up until now isn’t working, and something needs to change. You might question your purpose in the world and wonder if there’s a more excellent way to live than what you’ve tried so far.
How uncomfortable or how miserable do things have to get before you decide that enough is enough? Commit today that you will do things differently if you want to see real, lasting change.
“For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.” – James 1:23-25, NLT