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We have to make intentional choices in order to grow - there
is no growth without change, there is no change without loss, and there is no
loss without pain - if you are going to grow, you will have to change, and
change means you let go of some old things and grab hold of some new things
BY RICK WARREN
“Throw off your old sinful
nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception” - (Ephesians 4:22 NLT).
Change requires making choices. It’s
not enough to dream of changing. It’s not enough to desire change.
Change is intentional: Are you going
to be any different in six months? Are you going to be better a year from now?
Are you going to be healthier,
stronger, and more mature? Are you going to be happier?
Are you going to be less in debt? Are
you going to be more like God wants you to be?
I can tell you the answer right now:
It will only happen if you choose to change, because it isn’t going to happen
accidentally.
You need to think ahead to where you
need to be at the end of this year and where you need to be in three years, six
years, and a decade from now.
I want you to be better in 10 years
than you are today, but you won’t be unless you choose to be.
Change requires a choice.
A lot of times we think we’re waiting
on God to change us.
No, you are not
waiting on God. God is waiting on you! He’s waiting on you to say, “Yes,
Lord, I’m willing to make these changes.”
There is no growth without change,
there is no change without loss, and there is no loss without pain.
If you are going to grow, you will
have to change, and change means you let go of some old things and grab hold of
some new things.
It’s like swinging on a trapeze: The
trapeze artist swings out on one bar, and then he has to reach out and grab the
other bar.
At some point, he’s got to let go of
one to grab the other, or he’s not going to make it to the other side.
If he thinks he can hold on to both,
what happens? He gets stuck in the middle, and he’s going down.
Perhaps you are stuck in the middle,
and you’re going down because you haven’t let go of the old patterns, the old
habits, and the old ways of thinking.
You have to let go of your old ways.
The Bible
says, “Throw off your old sinful
nature and your former way of life” - (Ephesians 4:22
NLT).
In other words, let it go.
The Bible says to
throw them off and trust that God is working in you “to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13
NIV).
Talk It Over
· Why does change
require loss? How has this been true in your life?
· What old habits and
patterns do you need to “throw off” in order to grow and change this
year?
· What promises can
you claim from God’s Word that will help you as you make the choice every day
to grow and change?
Since founding Saddleback
Church in 1980, Rick Warren continues to be at the forefront of the evangelical
movement, encouraging churches everywhere to be a sanctuary for hope and
healing.
https://pastorrick.com/you-cant-change-by-accident/
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