I was given this article that I wrote for our church newspaper in November of 2002. Over 22 years later, it is interesting to look back and see where God has brought us, and yes, the changes that have been wrought in our lives. The truths remain, however the situations have changed.
Changes
I was a child in a military family, so change was something that occurred on a regular basis in my life. We moved on average every eighteen months, so I changed homes, schools, and friends frequently. Change is not often easy, and I've found that the older I get, the harder it is to accommodate change. I've also found that it comes more often, especially in things like clothing size and hair color.
But change is not necessarily a negative thing and can actually be positive in the life of a Christian. After all, we sing, "I've been changed ...", "What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought..." and "They can see a change in me..." There is immediately upon salvation a change in us, and there is that great and marvelous change to look forward to when "we shall all be changed." If "every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before," it is because we are changing on a daily basis.
Change is evidence of growth, and where there is no change, there is no growth.
Throughout life there are necessary and natural changes. Families change as children are born, grow up and leave, marry and begin their own families. Physically we change as we age and are forced to adjust our life-styles and habits, hobbies and practices. We change emotionally as we mature and become more stable and settled in our lives.
The most important changes by far are the spiritual changes that come in our lives as we walk closer and closer to the Lord as the years go by.
John and I are in the midst of one of those changes. For many years we have been working with teenagers as our ministry, with absolutely no desire for that to change. But God is, and hs been, working in our lives and hearts. Changes are happening. To be totally frank, we have absolutely no idea at this time what God is doing with us. We've wondered and questioned, we've searched and figured, but the bottom line is that God is holding that answer at bay right now. But we do know that He is guiding and leading us with a purpose of His own.
I Thessalonians 5:24 says, "Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it." What a blessed truth that is. As long as we are obedient to His call, and submissive to His leading, then we can rest confidently in His hands. One of the paradoxes of this Christian walk is that the more control you relinquish, the more secure you feel. That goes against human nature, which is to hold on and control whatever is happening in your life. But God promises us in Isaiah 26:3, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee."
We also must see change in ourselves in order to be molded and shaped for the purpose that God has for us. Not too long ago, I had an interesting conversation with the Lord. I had read a paper that my son wrote for a college class, and in it he described me in the most complimentary way. I was humbled and convicted by it, and almost felt like a fraud. I told God, as I was driving alone in the car, "Lord, I feel like a phony. I am not all those things that Jason said. I'm not godly, wise or compassionate. God, You know me...I'm not even a very nice person."
I felt the Lord's voice clearly speak to me, "No, Kerri, you're not all those things. But I am. And when people see those things in you, it is because you are allowing them to see Me in you."
I'm not even sure that I'm changing in any way, except for the areas of my life that I am yielding to the Lord. When I forget to yield control of myself to Him is when people see me. The changes come, and will continue to come, as I learn to yield more and take control less.
My Prayer
Father, give me eyes to see past my reflection in the glass,
To see the needs of others whom I daily pass.
Father, give me ears to hear the cries of those in need.
To give water to the thirsting, the hungry soul to feed.
Lord, held me to use my hands to comfort, help, and mend
The broken and the dying, to the friendless be a friend.
I guess what I am asking, is to change my point of view,
To turn me inside out Lord; to help me be like You
kerri
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