How many times have you found yourself mentally spiraling because you thought, “I said I was going to change ________ today and I didn’t”? Maybe it was something as simple as giving up sweets that day, but you found yourself breaking that fast. Or maybe it was something bigger, like battling deep-rooted jealousy. Maybe after getting a handle on it, you found yourself backtracking and back to where you started. You felt stuck.
These patterns can make all of us feel like we’re never actually able to change and grow. We’re broken humans, but our hope is that we’ve been rescued by a God who wants us to keep walking toward him no matter how many times we have to turn around and start over. The Bible never says, “Believe in God and you will act perfectly.” However, it does say, “Believe . . . and you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). We can’t change on our own, but we can with the help of our savior. There are two parts to this transformation: 1) If you believe in Jesus, then he has already saved you and therefore you are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). This is justification. 2) The Holy Spirit continues to transform you into the image of Christ. This is sanctification.
This reminded me of a passage in James: Let know one say when he is tempted, I am being tempted by God, for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and entices by his own desire. Then desire when it is conceived gives birth to sin and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my brothers, every good and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with who, there is no variation of shadow of change. Of HIS OWN will he brought us forth by the word of truth that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. —-James 1:13-18.
It’s easy to feel stuck and become angry with God. But this passage says that when it comes to sin, it does not come from God. He made us to be his firstfruits. In biblical, Jewish language that means the best of the best, the cream of the crop. Wow!
Sadly, my behavior towards my husband. I am his only human that he sees on a daily basis since mid-March. He is wise and discerning. Sometimes I am overwhelmed by what he shares with me about what’s going on in the world, especially within our country. I don’t want to bury my head in the sand, however, I don’t want to keep thinking and obsessing about what I cannot control. God is in control and He is bigger than anything going on within our nation and the world. The Holy Spirit brought to mind last night as I was praying about wanting to change and stop not only my words – I have Psalm 141:3 posted on my bathroom mirror, but also to change and renew the way I think, not only what I think about, also what I meditate on, My mind needs to be renewed so my thinking can be transformed. Garbage in, garbage out. God’s Word in, God’s love out. Thank you for this study. Thank You Holy Spirit for beginning the change and transformation today.
If I could summarize my Covid experience it would be exactly what you just said. Praying for you to find peace and strength to support him and that his heart would find peace in trusting and knowing God is control.
Work. I feel the motivation and momentum and then it’s like the weekend comes or a vacation distracts me and I take a “break” and feel like I have to gain momentum all over.
I just want to get to where I need to be, avoid the distractions that get my off course.
Work. I am unhappy in my job and have been for pretty much all the years I have been there. I struggle to understand why I am still there and no other opportunities have presented themselves. Although I know I need to, it’s difficult for me to be content knowing that’s God’s plan since I can’t see my purpose there.
The mind spirals regarding my family. I want to feel compassion and love towards them but I feel lost in the commotion of uncertainty and structure.
Health – weight loss, exercise, and food choices
Money – retail therapy
Addiction to fanfiction (don’t ask). Essentially seeking comfort in false gods (tv, books, fiction, food, friends, etc..)