How to Access True Personal Change

Change means different things to different people. For many of us who underwent changes in our lives after a death, divorce, or loss of a job, it was a painful thing that was endured with gritted teeth.

When we see something in ourselves we want to change, it’s discouraging when we try to do it all by ourselves and fail. But we can find encouragement when we see how the Bible puts change and transformation into perspective.

Looking at the difference between the Old and New Testaments, when Moses gave the Ten Commandments to the people as the Law they should follow, the commandments were based on self-effort. No one could keep all of them and earn God’s blessing without intercession by the Priests.

However, that changed when Jesus came to be our intermediary between God and the people. When we study what Jesus did and meditate on the Word, we can’t help but undergo transformation ourselves.

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2, NKJV).

Being born again and accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior begins the process. No matter what we’ve done or how guilty we feel about our past mistakes, God will accept us just as we are. We actually receive a new identity through Jesus.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:17, 18, NIV).

Paul, who initially hated Jesus and His followers (Acts 8:1, 3), met Him face-to-face and was instantly transformed (Acts 9:1-9). Those who knew Paul before his transformation initially had trouble understanding what happened, because they knew about his past (Acts 9:10-15).

But because Jesus takes away our old, sinful self and replaces it with a righteous new creation, Paul could truthfully say he was innocent. When we accept by faith what Jesus did for us on the cross, we can say the same thing.

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:23, 24, NKJV).

We can now look at lasting changes in us through the lens of Jesus Christ, and no longer have to dread it as something fearful. When we invite Jesus into our lives and He comes to live inside us, He brings about the transformations in us that were formerly impossible.

Whether we’re struggling with fear, doubt, anger, or any other spirits not from God, when Jesus takes up residence inside us, those spirits are permanently evicted!

The world teaches us to doubt anything that seems “too good to be true,” but God’s promise to change us into His image is true we simply must believe. It seems so incredible that some people have trouble understanding it intellectually.

God knew this would happen, so He reassures us to follow His prompting when He gives us directions. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths”(Proverbs 3:5, 6). Letting Him lead the way guarantees success.

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