Change Something, Change You

Nov 15, 2014 Change Something, Change You by Rick Warren “Let us examine our ways and turn back to the Lord.” (Lamentations3:40 MSG) You can’t change everything. But you can change you. When your life feels like it's falling apart, knowing what you can change — and what you can’t change — can make all the difference. You can’t change your past. You can’t change your parents. You can’t change the gifts and talents God has or hasn’t given you. You can’t change a handicap you’ve been given. You can’t bring back a dead loved one. You might as well accept all of those things. You’ll start to find peace in the midst of troubles when you accept what you can’t change. Otherwise, you’ll make yourself and the people you love miserable. There’s much you can’t change, but there’s something important you can change: you. When Jeremiah’s world was falling apart, he wrote in Lamentations 3:40: “Let us examine our ways and turn back to the Lord” (GNT). What’s going on in your life that doesn’t line up with what God wants? Depending on how we react, crises can help us as we learn to focus our eyes on what matters: Jesus. To re-order your life God’s way, it’ll take some gut-level self-evaluation. You’ll need to do an inventory of every area of your life. You’ll need to take a look at your relationship with God, your spouse, your kids, and your co-workers. You’ll need to look at hurts, habits, and hang-ups that may be bringing you down. Nothing can be off limits. It’s not easy. It can get messy. It’s always tough to turn from sin even when it’s tearing us down. But you can’t find healing otherwise. Healing apart from repentance can’t last. When your world is falling apart, you’ll be tempted to bemoan every area of your life. That’s a waste of time. You can’t change everything — but you can change you. And when your world is falling apart, that can mean everything. Talk It Over What one area of your life can you change right now that will make a positive impact on yourself and others? Who can help you ask yourself the hard questions about your priorities, relationships, and secret sins as you take a spiritual inventory of your life?

Be Still

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:

Be still, and know that I am God…
Psalm 46:10, NIV

TODAY'S WORD:

When God created Adam, He put him in the Garden of Eden, a very quiet, peaceful, tranquil place. That’s where God met him and spoke with him, in a place of peace. 

Today’s life can be very noisy. If we allow it, all of us can live stressed, uptight, in a hurry and on edge. In the midst of the whirlwind of activity going on around us, we’ve got to learn to not let the busyness, the frustration and stress get on the inside of us. It may be hectic on the outside, but deep down in your spirit, you can be at rest because you know God has you in the palm of His hand.

Maybe you have been worried for a long time or stressed because a dream hasn’t come to pass or upset over a challenge you’re dealing with. Just like God met Adam at a place of peace, God is saying, “There may be trouble all around, but I am calling you to a place of peace. Be still and know that I am God. Come to Me, and I will give you wisdom, strength and grace for everything you face.”

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Father, thank You for drawing me to the place of peace. I choose to be still. I choose to find rest in You. I choose to trust You knowing that my days are ordered by You in Jesus’ name. Amen.

​PS...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpPZn7sjBfw