Insight + Endurance + Action = Change - Part 3

Seldom does a day pass that didn’t require the need to change some aspect of life. Here we have two options: deny the need and neglect the chance for change, or go forward and pursue the opportunity God provides. God is at work to bring about maturity and insight. Listening and responding are choices which ensure that healthy change is acknowledged.

Insight is key to growth and maturity. 1 Timothy 4:29 identifies the source of wisdom and insight. "God gave Solomon wisdom and insight, and knowledge too great to be measured."  Proverbs 7:4 offers this advice: "Treat wisdom as your sister and insight as your close friend." Webster defines insight as the capacity to discern the true nature of a situation.

Insight should be pursued because it provides a permanent richness and fulfillment to life. It's the avenue to better relationships with friends, co-workers, family and God. Yet gaining insight requires diligent study and listening with determination to understand. God gives this gift to the willing, responsible recipient, so choose to be one. 

Insight + Endurance + Action = Change - Part 2

Change is usually dependent upon available choices but may be complicated by lack of courage to move forward. Three components of change are insight, endurance, and action. Insight is the capacity to comprehend possibilities that previously were obscure and to realize choices are now available to move forward.

To achieve what’s possible may require enduring trials and testing, perhaps failure. God's word assures believers who endure that they will be rewarded for their investment. That investment could include training for a new job, parenting children through the difficulties of adolescence, or enduring a bad marriage while hoping for a renewal of love, passion and friendship.

Insight, along with endurance, builds character and stamina that are ready for action and effective change. Jesus instructed his followers to go make disciples of all people, teaching them and baptizing them so they could be his people. Action under-girded by faith and trust honors God and makes effective change possible.  

Insight + Endurance + Action = Change - Part 1

Numerous times I've asked God to help me with something so I could be better prepared for a difficult task. Insight is essential for inaugurating needed change. Insight may come immediately or gradually, but applying the insight and wisdom God gives is essential for change. God gives us determination to integrate insight into our behavior and thinking patterns.

This is where endurance, the second component of change comes into play.   What does the word endurance mean to you? Endurance has a stick-to-it attitude. God's word informs us that Jesus endured the cross, the humiliation, the shame and pain so we would not have to endure eternal separation from God.

The end result of endurance is confirmation by God. "He who endures to the end will be saved." We have an advocate who remembers, who never forgets, who provides help at just the right time. Endurance is supplemented with stamina, which is replenished as we stay true to our calling in Christ Jesus.