John 16:4 NLT
Yes, I’m telling you these things now, so that when they happen, you will remember my warning. I didn’t tell you earlier because I was going to be with you for a while longer.
When we start to make a serious study of the Word of God, we should begin to conclude that God is looking to make changes in us.
We should start to see that the only thing that we remotely have control over is what we focus on and what we do and say. Everything else is in God’s hands.
We should start to realize that we should be holding every rebellious thought we have captive to the Holiness of Jesus Christ.
When faced with the challenge of looking at things around us that we know is wrong, we must stifle the urge to bring our will to bear on the situation. This does not mean that we don’t bring what we see is wrong to the attention of the people involved, but where we cross the line is when we become emotionally invested in seeing that we will change it.
When we do this, the gains will be short-lived and eventually overthrown if the change comes by any means other than by the hand of God.
‘I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”’ John 16:33
Jesus said that we would “have many trials and sorrows.”
And He continues saying, “But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
With every trial and sorrow we face, God uses these events to shape us into the image of His Son.
As a maturing Christian, we need to start preparing our minds in advance for the things to come. We need to make our hearts ready for the challenges that we are going to be facing. And the Coronavirus is only the tip of the iceberg; we will experience far greater challenges than this in the future; read Revelations.
From my personal experience, the more I read the Bible, the more convicted I am with what I think and what I do. I am becoming less and less critical of the things I see around me, realizing these things are in God’s Hands and more critical about what I am thinking and what I am doing, looking for more ways to be gracious, forgiving, and of service to those around me.
I don’t beat myself over the head with this conviction, but I do bring these feelings to Jesus and ask Him to help me deal with these feelings, and I ask Him to show me what I can do to help change what I see as wrong. And then I wait.
Psalm 27:14 NLT
Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.
One of two things happens:
1. The situation changes. The people involved come to see what they are doing is not right and stop doing what they are doing. This consists of no input from me, and I can recognize that God has inserted Himself, and the change sticks. It is amazing.
2. God shows me what to do, mostly through my reading of scripture. I act on this, and the situation changes. Either way, it is by God’s hand that the change takes place.
When I don’t wait, and I force myself on the situation, I may get a temporary change simply because of the person wanting me to get off their back, but this eventually ends up in rebellion because it requires my constant attention. I finally run out of steam, or the person fights back, and we end up worse off than we were before.
A battle of wills always ends up in a loss-loss scenario, but when God is the source of change, it will benefit all parties involved and never be thrown over.
The question is where does all of this start?
For the mature Christian, it always starts with us.
When we obey the Will of God, God will always go before us to help us in our challenges. And we need to develop the courage, strength, and confidence before we face the trials that will arise in our lives.
Romans 12:2 NLT
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Romans 12:2 NASB
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
The only way for us to change the way we think or renew our minds is by consistently studying God’s Word.
Heavenly Father, I know that You are at work making all things work out for those who are in Jesus Christ.
I pray that You continue to work in my mind to transform my heart, making me more like Jesus Christ, bestowing unconditional love, forgiveness, and grace to those around me.
I pray that my life is a mirror of the work that Jesus Christ is doing in my heart.
Let every thought, attitude and action glorify Jesus Christ.
In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen!! 🙏❤️
