Change is possible

In all my life, and teaching for many years, I don't know that I have ever changed anyone's mind. It's very difficult to change someone's mind, but they can change when something happens to cause them to want a different lifestyle.

If circumstances happen that cause a life change, that change life can bleed over into a changed mind. As with most of us, we know many people who have changed their lifestyle and therefore have a changed mind. Experts tell us that it's very hard for a meth addict to stop taking meth. But I know some who have had a life change (through Jesus) which bled over into a mind change and today they live very productive and successful lives. That's the kind of God we serve. There is someone who can turn things around and that someone is Jesus.

I thought of how dieting and following God have some similarities.

The first change killer: rather than a "lifestyle change", we go on a diet for a "quick fix". The trouble with a diet is that at some point we grow tired of the diet (no matter which one we try) and we go back to our old eating habits. "Just one chip won't hurt. Just one carb will be good for me. Just one roll will not matter." Those little thoughts quickly lead back to one road...the same one we were on before starting a diet.

The same thing is true with Christianity. Without a genuine "lifestyle change" we will revert back to "little sins" that we hated before coming to Christ. Like the "just one" diet killer, Satan has a "just one" trick, too. It's not a one and done. We constantly work on living a life that's pleasing to God. Christianity, as with dieting, requires a plan that you can live with. Jesus described a plan that works and "keeps" us on track. That includes faithfulness; a diet of Bible reading and a lifestyle of prayer. A "quick fix" doesn't last and never works. Absolute commitment on the other hand, will give us power to hang on even if we see we aren't losing the weight, or gaining spirituality, as fast as we wanted to.

The second change killer: we know we should exercise, but "we're too tired or too busy". We pay for fitness center memberships and we are all fired up for the first month or two...then we suddenly get too busy. We are too tired after working all day. We miss one time of going to the gym, then we miss a second, and a third...before long we completely drop out.

Christians can be the the same way. People get saved and are all fired up. They are in church every time the door is open, but after a few months the flame begins to diminish and a slow decline toward the "old life" can begin. We miss one church service, then a second, then a third and before long ... we completely drop out.

To combat the "just one" temptation and keep down discouragement ... pray and meditate on God's Word. In Psalm David said, "O how I love thy law! It is my meditation all the day" (Psalms 119:97).

Work what works. The Bible and a relationship with Jesus is what works.

In Joshua 1:8 we read: "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."