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Giving up the Resistance to Change

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Scripture Verses

  • Ecclesiastes 3:1–8
  • Matthew 8:24–27

Questions to Consider

  • Why is change hard?
  • What changes are you resisting that you know you need to make?
  • What do you do to embrace change?
  • How does Jesus help us change?

Plan of Action

  • We become creatures of habit. We fall into certain patterns. Today you are challenged to break a routine. Becoming comfortable changing smaller things helps us become more comfortable when the time comes to change bigger things. This is about training ourselves to become comfortable with change.
  • While everything around us changes, you need a solid foundation (see Matthew 8:24–27). Set a certain time of the day for prayer and the study of God’s Word. Stick to it. Don’t change the time of the day. Don’t let anything change this priority. Let that time of the day serve as your anchor.

Reflection

It is said the only thing certain in life is death and taxes. I would suggest another thing which is certain is “change.” That’s actually the point behind the saying. Nothing stays the same forever. Seasons come and seasons go (see Ecclesiastes 3:1–8).

But we resist change. We try as hard as we can to hold on to an ideal past or present. We romanticize about our glory days of the past. We try to keep things the way they are now. But part of the problem with the glory days is they were not as glorious as we make them out to be. The present is not much better. We would do well to envision a changed and better future.

In Matthew 4:12–17, Jesus begins his ministry. The message he preached was:

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17 (ESV)

I want you to pay special attention to that first word which is “Repent.” Repent means to turn around and go in a different direction. Repentance is different from confession. Confession is to admit that I am wrong. Repentance is to actually stop what I am doing and to change my ways. Ultimately, repentance is about change in me.

Repentance starts with an open heart. Ask God to reveal in you what needs to be different. Ask him for the desire and the will to make the necessary change. There are many times when we know we need to change, but the change we need to make is just too hard. Rely upon his strength!

One of the keys to embracing the necessary change is having a solid foundation. If you have a solid foundation, change is not something to be feared. For us, our solid foundation is Jesus. He keeps us centered and secure. The Bible tells us:

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (ESV)

He is the Alpha and the Omega. He is the beginning and the end. He is the most certain thing we have in life. When our world is rocked, he doesn’t roll away.

There is also the change around us. That change will often come like a tsunami and there is no way to stand against that wave. We have seen sweeping changes over the landscape of America and the social climate. There are numerous approaches people take in regards to the change. Some will fight it. Some will bury their heads in the sand. Still others embrace it.

I may not always like what is happening around me. I may be upset about what is changing. I have found that when I am uncomfortable with the changes around me, it is time to go back to God and ask him what he wants to change in me. The problem is not always with what is happening around me, but the problem is often with what is happening in my heart. The world is changing everyday. If you allow God to change you and mold you, the future is full of exciting possibilities.

But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. Isaiah 64:8 (ESV)

Next: Pride

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Giving up Idolizing

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Week 5 Wednesday

Scripture Verses

  • Philippians 2:1–11
  • Revelation 5:1–14
  • Deuteronomy 6:1–9

Questions to Consider

  • How is idolatry practiced today?
  • What are some idols you make for yourself?
  • How do you overcome idolatry?
  • How does Jesus conquer idolatry in our lives?

Plan of Action

  • Is there another person upon whom you have placed unrealistic expectations? Thank them and encourage them for what they have accomplished even though it did not match what you had expected.
  • Under-promise and over-deliver! One of the reasons we disappoint people is because we promise too much. Don’t promise what you cannot offer.

Reflection

In the 10 Commandments we read:

You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Exodus 20:4 (ESV)

In other words, do not make an idol for yourself. In the context of the Old Testament, these idols would come in the form of statutes made of wood or stone. They served a purpose similar to good luck charms. People hoped these idols would bring happiness and prosperity, but God knew that these idols did nothing other than lead people away from trusting in him.

Today we have different idols. We don’t often bow down to statues. Our idols come in different forms. Many of our idols come in the form of people. We put them on a pedestal they cannot live up to. Too often we expect more from others than they are able to give. The higher the pedestal we put them on, the further they have to fall.

Recognize that our disappointment in others is often because we are holding them to a higher standard than we hold for ourselves. We are good at practicing forgiveness towards ourselves when we don’t meet our expectations. We are not nearly as good practicing that same forgiveness towards others.

Consider some of the ways we unfairly put people on pedestals:

  • We expect them to be gifted in every way. Sometimes our disappointment is because they cannot deliver in a substantial enough way. Because they are gifted in one way we assume them to be gifted in another way. People have different ways in which they are gifted. We see this in pastors. Your pastor may be a gifted preacher and teacher. But you get him in a one-on-one situation in a hospital where he does not excel the same way he excels in the pulpit.

  • We expect them to be someone they are not. Another reason others disappoint us is because they are not the same person we miss or grieve. We talk about someone having big shoes to fill. That new boss is not your previous boss. Don’t expect them to be. They are their own person.

  • We expect them to share the same affinities as us. Another reason people disappoint us is because we expect them to think like us. We expect them to hold the same opinions as us. We expect them to have the same affinities as us. But consider these differences in others to be an opportunity to sharpen us. Iron sharpens iron.

  • We expect them to be perfect and never offend us. A final reason people disappoint us is we expect them to be without sin. We are somehow surprised when a skeleton is discovered in someone’s closet. Consider your own life if you have things you would rather remain hidden. If you do, you are not alone.

This is the reason God says you shall not make an idol. He knows every idol we make will eventually disappoint us. This command is given for our own welfare and benefit. The more we idolize, the harder it is to forgive. The harder it is to forgive the more weary and burdened our souls will be.

There is only one we worship. There is only one we hold to the highest standard. That is our Savior Jesus. There is truly none like him. He is the only one that will not disappoint.

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9–11 (ESV)

Next: The Resistance to Change

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Giving up Worry

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Week 5 Tuesday

Scripture Verses

  • Matthew 6:25–34
  • Psalm 46:1–11

Questions to Consider

  • Why do we worry?
  • What are you worried about?
  • How do you overcome worry?
  • How does Jesus help you overcome worry?

Plan of Action

  • Get to work. When you are busy working towards a solution, it is difficult to find time to worry.
  • Journal! This is a great way to collect your thoughts and think through a situation. Sometimes our worry is caused by not adequately assessing a situation.
  • Tell God about your worry. Give it to someone who can actually do something about it.

Reflection

Worry does not accomplish anything good. It is not going to help your situation. It is not going to change anything. Jesus himself says:

And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? Matthew 6:27 (ESV)

If you are able to accomplish anything through worry, it will not be good. You have heard the saying: “You are going to worry yourself sick.” Worry indeed makes makes you sick. Worry robs you of being healthy, happy, and productive. This is a Biblical principle:

Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad. Proverbs 12:25 (ESV)

Worry is the opposite of trusting God. Worry stems from doubt. It starts when we are unsure of God’s providence and plan.

We worry about:

  • Things we can’t control
  • Things we can control
  • Things of the past
  • Things of the future
  • Things known
  • Things unknown

There is no end to the things we needlessly worry about. We waste a lot of time and energy worrying about these things. Imagine if the time and energy we spent on worry was applied in a positive way. Many of the things we worry about never actually happen. Worry paralyzes our effectives. It pulls us away from God’s path.

The next time you find yourself worrying here are a few ideas:

  • Consider the worst-case scenario. If you actually considered what the worst-case scenario might be, you may realize it is not all that bad.
  • Do the work. Do something positive. When you are working towards a solution you have less time to worry. It is when you are not working towards a solution when worry enters the picture. Just tell worry you don’t have time.
  • Rebuke it. Tell your worry it has no place in your life. Tell your worry that you are a child of God and because of that you have no need for it.
  • Talk to God about it. The situation and circumstances swirl in our mind all day long. But sometimes you get to the end of the day and you realize we never said anything to God about it.
  • Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. (Matthew 6:33) When Jesus talks about worry, this is how he tells you to respond. The idea here is to keep seeking. Don’t give up. If you are constantly striving for God’s will our life and work you cannot go wrong. That is not to say it will be easy, but you will be blessed.

Next: Idolizing

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Giving up the Quick Fix

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Week 5 Monday

Scripture Verses

  • Hebrews 12:3–17
  • Psalm 22:1–31
  • Revelation 21:1–8

Questions to Consider

  • Is there good to be found in pain?
  • In what ways have you been refined through suffering?
  • How do you overcome pain (physical, emotional, spiritual) in your life?
  • How does God use pain for good? How does he overcome pain?

Plan of Action

  • Think about a difficult or hurtful situation in your life. As you consider this situation, consider what you can change and do differently? Consider how you are contributing to the hurt?
  • Pray! There is no greater gift God gives us when wrestling with pain and suffering. Ask God to reveal what he wants to reveal to you through the pain.

Reflection

It’s hard to live with suffering. We do whatever we can to avoid it. And when we encounter suffering we look for the quick fix. But in our haste to eliminate the pain we often miss the purpose behind it and the lesson to be learned.

If we have a headache, we take an aspirin. We want pain relief that is quick to eliminate the headache. But in our effort to find the quick fix we miss discovering the cause behind the pain. The cause of the headache might be dehydration, stress, or lack of sleep. The aspirin is the quick fix, but the real need could be to drink more water, eliminate stress, or get more sleep. When we fail to grasp the root cause of our pain, we will often find ourselves soon experiencing the pain again.

I see this a lot as pastor. A church member comes with a crisis. They want a Bible verse to be read or prayer to be prayed that will make it all better. But sometimes we need to wrestle with God and the cause of our pain. We need to go back to the origins of the pain and our own sin to discover how he is refining us.

The pain tells us something is not right. It gives us the opportunity to discover what needs to change. It points us to find our strength and healing in God. Through the pain we are refined. Through it God prepares us for future ministry. Through it we develop greater appreciation for future glory.

Maybe you are struggling in your marriage. You look to read a book on marriage. You go to counseling. You attend a conference. You participate in a couples Bible study. You are looking for that one thing to make everything better. Marriage takes work and effort. There is not a quick fix. A great marriage is not discovered in one thing. Health and healing is approached from all sorts of different angles.

It is true in marriage and in so many other parts of life. Achieving the greatest joys in life are not discovered by following step-by-step instruction manuals. They come through a lot of hard work, sweat, tears, and faith in God. The greater the struggle while on the journey, the greater appreciation upon reaching the destination.

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? Hebrews 12:7 (ESV)

I thank God everyday for my experiences in ministry. Some of those experiences I would never want to encounter again. But those experiences formed me into the pastor I am today. They prepared me to accomplish today what I could never have achieved prior to those experiences.

I know God has some great thing in store for your life. It may be real difficult right now, but listen to his voice through the pain. Let him refine you and prepare you.

Next: Worry

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Giving up Disunity

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Week 4 Saturday

Scripture Verses

  • 1 Corinthians 12:12–31
  • Ephesians 4:1–16
  • John 17:20–26

Questions to Consider

  • Where do you see disunity in the world?
  • What are the consequences of disunity?
  • What is your role as a peace-maker?
  • How does Jesus bring peace and reconciliation to a hostile world?

Plan of Action

  • What is a sacrifice you need to make for the sake of unity? What are you holding on to out of pride that is hindering unity in your marriage, church, or work?
  • Participate in the Lord’s Supper this weekend with other brothers and sisters in Christ to find unity with them in Christ’s sacrifice.

Reflection

Where there are many visions there is division. We see it in the politics of America. There are different views about the future of America and how the government should be run. What we are left with is polarization and disunity on many important matters of policy.

We see this same type of disunity within the church. There is competition between denominations. There is competition within denominations. There is also competition within many local churches. Different visions lead to division.

But God does not have multiple visions. He has one vision. His vision is about saving lost sinners. We strive together to seek the implications of this vision in our local context. Maintaining unity is difficult, but here are some important convictions to maintain if we are to stay unified:

Honor those in authority

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. Hebrews 13:17 (ESV)

Whether it is a pastor or a board member, their job is not easy. They have been entrusted with the task to make difficult decisions. We may not always agree with their decision,s but we must honor their decisions and trust they are seeking the Lord. That was why they were appointed to the position they were given.

Celebrate differences

As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 1 Corinthians 12:20 (ESV)

Unity is not the same as uniformity. Diversity is something to be celebrated within the church. We look different. We think different. We have different likes and dislikes. We have different gifts. The church would be very boring if everyone was the same.

Differences will sometimes lead to conflict, but we would do well to look for the opportunity in conflict. How do we grow from conflict? What are the lessons to be learned in conflict? How is God refining us during conflict?

Be a peacemaker

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Matthew 5:9 (ESV)

The amazing thing about God is that he was willing to embrace a humanity which was hostile towards him. To make peace possible he led with love rather than justice. Rather than holding people accountable for their sins, he sent Jesus. God’s love for sinners is relentless.

Like God, we must be willing to lead with love rather than justice. In 2 Corinthians 5:18–19 we are described as ministers of reconciliation. We are agents of peace. We strive for reconciliation by following God’s example in that he did not count people’s sins against them. He took their sins upon himself (2 Corinthians 5:18–21). For unity to exist, you must be willing to absorb the sins of others. A peacemaker must be willing to stand in the line of fire and sometimes get burned.

Participation in the Lord’s Supper

For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 1 Corinthians 11:29 (ESV)

We see the joining of two words in the one word communion (common + union). As the family of God we hold a unity of faith. We participate in the body and blood of Christ. There is a mystical union. That is what Sacrament is. The Lord’s Supper is about more than our relationship with Jesus. There is a reason we receive it together with other believers. Communion is also about our relationship with brothers and sisters in Christ – the body of Christ. Through the Lord’s Supper, we are one with Christ, but we are also one with each other. It’s the Body of Christ that unites us. I imagine this is one of the reasons Jesus tells us to do this often so that we remember our unity in him.

Next: The Quick Fix

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