The courage to change

We've all got the courage within ourselves to do what it takes to change. What you need to do is renew your mind and keep a good attitude about it. It won't be an easy or quick process but it is one that everyone can do if they want it badly enough.

Sometimes God lets us know that a new step is coming but we are not told what it is and this can make us scared. However just because you feel fear does not mean that you are a coward, it a sign that you are brave enough to move onto another level of change, whatever that might be. Feel the fear, move beyond it and do what you are meant to do. Fear will try and keep you from having victory but God is greater and is with you every step of the way.

Joshua 1:3 " I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses." - God tells Jesus that he is going to feel fear but not to run. God is not going to give you a big blue print for your life. That would make life on this earth too easy! We often need to make a leap of faith. God won't reveal the next move until we let go of what we are holding onto which is usually through fear.

The devil gives us fear, he makes it very hard for us to do the things we need in order to move on. We need to dig way down deep to get past that, but we can do it if we have faith in God. Nothing changes in your life unless you do something about the place you are at. It always takes change to make progress. YOU have to make the first move whether that's physical or mental.

Joshua 1:5 " No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you." - With God it doesn't matter what your failings are and what you are not as God will make up for that as long as you place your trust in him.

Joshua 1:8 "  Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." - The one thing you must do whilst trying make progress is meditate on the Word and act on the Word. Progress will not happen if you do not make the Word the centre of your life.

Joshua 1:9 "
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." - Amen!

The key to peace is to accept what you can and cannot change, only God can change some things. If you do what you can do, God will do what you cannot do. If you do what you can do then let God deal with what you can't do and still enjoy where you are at on the way to where you are going. Living by the Serenity Prayer is particularly important. You will not enjoy your changing life if you do not live by it. You can't waste the energy getting upset about something you cannot change. Just sit and let it sink in that it is what it is and that you will deal with it all one day at a time. God gives us the grace to do whatever we need to do we keep a good attitude about our change.

With regard to childhood abuse and other past trauma, we can't do anything about the actual events, that time has gone and at that time we were powerless to stop it. But you are going to survive it and thrive from it and the Serenity Prayer plays a huge part in that. One day you will move away from the past and escape it all entirely but maybe you are not quite ready to fully commit but the day will come. It will. It truly will.

Ability, efficiency, might and power all come from the Holy Spirit. Understand that you have what it takes to do whatever you need to in life as the Holy Spirit resides inside of you. Stop thinking that you can't as if will turn into a self-fulfilling prophecy and you will never move on

We live in a "right now" culture. We want everything right now. We are not willing to wait. A prime example being the financial culture of getting a new household item or car and spending the next five years making monthly payments at an extortionate APR in order to pay it off. We want, want, want but are seldom happy whilst waiting, we get frustrated and grumpy. More people probably feel frustration rather than peace. You cannot change the future right now but you can change how you feel in this moment.

Philippians 2:12 " Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling" - Work out your own salvation, resist temptation and do everything without grumbling.

Philippians 2:13 " for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose." - The desire to change that is inside you was put there by God and he is the one that gave you the courage to change and he is the one to help keep you happy on the journey of change. God wants you to be happy on the way to where you are going. He doesn't want you to be unhappy in the process.

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference."