God Intended for There to Be Change – Can You Comply?

The mother of a teenage daughter lamented how the social rules have changed since she was an adolescent. Women can now compete for positions in any career field and have proven to be worthy contenders. That a woman would run for president was unthinkable just two generations ago.

When a significant part of society changes, it forces the rest of society to realign itself. It’s analogous to systems theory, which implies if part of a system changes, the complete system is affected. So as women’s issues experience broad-spectrum change, men’s issues are modified accordingly.

The consolation for these changes is that God intended for there to be change, and with his guidance and wisdom there can be honor, integrity, mutual love and respect as God’s plans become apparent. Psalm 138:8 assures, “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; His steadfast love endures forever.”             

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You were told that your foolish desires will destroy you and that you must give up your old way of life with all its bad habits. Let the Holy Spirit change your way of thinking and make you into a new person. You were created to be like God, and so you must please him and be truly holy. 

~Ephesians 4:22-24 Contemporary English Version

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How Can Unhappiness Motivate Change?

It’s impossible to be a member of society and never experience some unhappiness. Children do not always get what they want although they may tend to be overindulged. A young woman was sent to the university of her choice with a new sports car, the latest fashion, and credits cards, but after a semester of failing grades and being very unhappy, she refused to continue seeking a college degree.

Spoiled children and adults believe if they could acquire a particular object, place or position, they would surely be satisfied, contented, and happy. Yet they’re under constant pressure to keep the truth hidden behind a mask of distorted reality.

This method of thinking and feeling can eventually produce an emotional crisis. Unhappiness can be the motivation for reaching out to Christ Jesus and perhaps a Christian counselor. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ gives you courage to do what is good and right for yourself and others. Faith is God’s gift to you for managing unhappiness. 

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So get rid of your old self, which made you live as you used to – the old self that was being destroyed by its deceitful desires. Your hearts and minds must be made completely new, and you must put on the new self, which is created in God’s likeness and reveals itself in the true life that is upright and holy.  

~Ephesians 4:22-24 Good News Bible

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Seize Opportunity: It's Our Responsibility - Part 3

The success of a worthy mission or project depends on participants being accountable and submissive. Some people bristle at the thought of being accountable by thinking it’s an invasion of privacy. However, most opportunities require accountability and submissiveness to rules and procedures that ensure tasks are completed within an acceptable time frame.

Regardless of how promising an opportunity appears, obstructions such as impure thoughts and motives can block success. Self-centeredness can discourage others from providing positive input that promotes your own success. If you become sealed off emotionally and spiritually, you put yourself on a narrow pathway where you may stumble and fall.

God intends for you to successfully navigate through obstructions. He encourages you to constantly renew your mind with the truth of his word so you will be ready to take advantage of opportunities sent your way. Being accountable and submissive is possible. God empowers you with strength and determination to do so.  

Never Give Up! God Will Send Help - Part 2

Character flaws are present in everyone and can cause even the strongest Christians to feel like impostors. An impostor permits character defect to gain control his or her life. A newspaper told of a pastor who led a charge against the president of a seminary, which resulted in the president's being fired. That pastor later resigned his church because scandals plagued his own personal life.

This illustrates how God's gift of leadership can become abusive. The carnal side of human nature goes after selfish pleasures which insist on being satisfied. The apostle Paul warns us to refrain from deceiving ourselves and others because God will not be mocked. Whatever we sow, that we will reap.

Godly resilience nudges us back to higher ground to walk with Jesus and be a blessing to others. All people are capable of drifting into sin and temptation because we never lose our old sin nature. But with Christ in us, we have a new nature which gives us power to establish boundaries on our old sinful nature.