New Year of Change
With every new year I ponder on the prior year and remember the good and the bad but most importantly I examine whether or not I have grown spiritually or have I stayed stagnant in my walk with God or worse digressed. I do this every year to remind myself that no matter how long I have been a born again Christian, I still have much to learn and new growth waiting to spring up in me if I would just allow God to continue to water and nurture my life with His living water.
I’m not saying I am not blessed where God has me. I just believe that God’s ultimate goal for our lives is to be transformed into His image as His salt and light to the world and when I examine my heart soberly before God I see the areas in my life He desires to change and give me victory in, so that I can experience the fullness of God and the abundant life He has for me.
The word “Change” has been coming up a lot lately especially for 2009 and I believe that word is for me. Do you think that word may also be for you? One day I was in the midst of prayer and I was praying my usual, “God help me in this particular area” prayer when I felt the Holy Spirit remind me of this scripture;
“And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this? They said to Him, "Yes, Lord." Then He touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith let it be to you." NKJV Matthew 9:28-29.
When I remembered this passage, I immediately responded as the blind men did and said, “Of course I do God!” but for good reason I sensed God was asking me a hypothetical question and after some thought I realized, that in certain areas I have abundant faith, but in the areas that I struggle with, it is as if I have no faith at all. Yes faith that God can certainly heal or change others but for me, Nah…I will just have to struggle with this the rest of my life.
God impressed on my heart that He wanted me to change the way I viewed His power in my life. At our last women’s retreat I shared a devotional from Reverend Charles Spurgeon who wrote with beautiful transparency. He wrote how easy it was for Him to believe God could move mountains for others but for himself in certain areas he did not always think it possible. He was confessing how easy it is to have faith for others to be healed but for ourselves we think it impossible. I was encouraged to know that I was not alone and confessed that was how I viewed my struggles. Yes, for everyone else it is not impossible for God but for me, not so possible.
Can you relate? Do you have certain areas in your life you want God to give you victory in but you just don’t think it’s going to happen? I believe God wants to change our hearts and point of view to a faith that believes and receives that He can… especially for us.
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” NKJV- Heb 11:6
That same night I asked God to help me in my unbelief and made a conscience decision that I was going to believe God was able in this area and the very next morning my heart was definitely changed. From a heart that was feeling defeated to a heart that believed God could do this in my life. I just needed to believe and as I took active steps by faith I began to see a transformation take place and I am still seeing it as I keep moving forward in His direction.
I understand now that in order to experience victory in my life in these areas I first needed to change the way I viewed God in light of His power in my life and also I needed a change of heart from unbelief to believing by faith He was able.
Did you know the Hebrew definition for “repentance” is having a change of mind, a fundamental and thorough change in the hearts of men and women from sin towards God? As we take a deeper look at the word “change” in regards to repentance we will also find that change is only the beginning or shall I say the starting point of a new direction. Real and true change comes when we confess our sin, stop walking in that sin, turn and go towards God and walk in His direction.
The interesting thing about change is once you walk along the path in a new direction it now becomes a new destination and for us who walk in Christ are walking in new life. “Therefore If anyone is in Christ, is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold all things have become new.” NKJV - 2 Corinthians 5:17. There is no condemnation, God in turns forgives us of the past and then gives us new life in Him.
I would like to challenge you by asking you to take a moment to examine your heart and your life soberly and see if there is anything you believe God would like to change in you, grow you or give you victory in. Also, if you need to repent by all means repent from your unbelief and ask God to help you believe. God is a forgiving God and is able to do above and beyond what you can imagine or think and is faithful to do it!
God loves you and has a plan for your life and would like nothing more than to see you fulfill His plan for you according to His will through Him. It reminds me of the worship song, “Change my heart O God”,
Change my heart O God
Make it ever new
Change my heart O God
May I be like You
You are the Potter
I am the clay
Mold me and make me
This is what I pray
May the Lord bless you with a change of heart that glorifies Him and makes you anew and afresh in Him.
Filoiann Wiedenhoff is a pastor’s wife, woman’s biblical counselor, bible teacher, writer and columnist. You can visit her website at www.filoiannwiedenhoff.com.
