Lasting Change

Do you have some things in your life that need changing?  How does lasting change take place?  It begins with getting honest with ourselves and with God.  The word honest comes from the word honor.  I Corinthians 11:31 says “If we judge ourselves we should not be judged.”  Too many times we want to give ourselves a way out or make excuses for our shortcomings and sins.

I am not talking about self-condemnation or feeling guilty.  That does not bring change.  And feeling guilty and self-condemned does not mean you have actually repented or made a change.  To judge yourself is to look honestly at yourself in light of God’s Word.  Be blunt and strong.  Stand up and face whatever it is that needs to go in your life.  Call it sin.  You don’t have to be afraid of what God might do.  He has known it was there in your life all along.  When you confess the sin is not when God finds out about it.  That is when you get rid of it. 

Now, you are ready to receive your forgiveness.  Look at I John 1:6-10

I John 1:6-9

6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Speak out loud to Jesus your Lord and Savior:  “Lord, your word says you are faithful and just to cleanse me and forgive me from all unrighteousness.  I have confessed all these things before you and I hold nothing back.  Your Word says you are forgiving me right now.  For you not to forgive me, would mean you are not faithful.  That can’t be true.  I believe I receive my forgiveness right now in (time of day) on (today’s date) in Jesus’ name.”

Next, look up and read out loud Isaiah 43:25

“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”

Every time a symptom of your old life – like guilt, or feelings of sorrow over your past tries to creep into your mind, say “No!  Jesus is faithful.  I am cleansed of that and God chooses not to remember my sin. I am clean in his sight.”  Now if God chooses not to remember it why should you?

Finally, check out what you are feeding your spirit and your mind.  Your mind is like a computer.  Whatever you put into it is what you will get out of it.  Trash in, trash out. God’s Word in: faith, hope, love, healing – released.  That is just the way it is.  We must face the truth in order to making lasting change.

You may say, “I’ve tried so many times and failed.”  Don’t quit!  Every time you are aware of  sin in your life, be tough on yourself and repent.  Go through these steps again with God’s Word in your hand, looking up the above passage. Make a lasting change.  This can be the best year of your life.