Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. (Romans 12:3)
No doubt you’ve heard the phrase, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” That is shorthand for all the reasons and excuses people will offer for not making whatever changes are necessary to their beliefs or behaviors. But make no mistake, the life of the Christian is a life of continual change. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Old dogs can learn “new tricks” when the teacher is our Lord Jesus Christ.
The first step to making positive change in your life is to recognize that a change is actually necessary, whether that means changing a belief or a behavior. To be convinced that you need to change is to acknowledge that something was wrong or deficient, and sinful pride will always rise up against that admission. Sinful pride will do everything in its power to convince you that you are doing fine just the way you are and that change is entirely unnecessary.
Once you push past pride and identify that a change truly is necessary, the second step is to be willing to put in the effort to make the desired change, and that effort must always begin on your knees. Take your desired change to the Throne of Grace. All change begins and ends with God, which is why you must spend time in communion with Him. Add to that time in His Word. Come to the Scriptures and read with the prayerful expectation that God will reveal the path you need to travel to reach your new destination.
Finally, having convinced yourself of the need for change and committing to making the necessary effort, you must be willing to walk the path God has shown you, regardless of cost or circumstance. God has promised to strengthen your resolve so that you will be empowered to do what is necessary to change. But you must be willing to do your part. The process of learning “new tricks” requires your active participation. The gift of God’s grace is available to us without conditions, but we must receive His grace, respond to it, and act accordingly.
Remember, change is at the heart of what it means to be a Christian, because the Gospel changes everything, including you! With that in mind, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). Come to the Lord and ask Him to direct your steps . . . including those steps that will take you in a new direction.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 