04.16.21 – Dealing With Change! – Matthew 18:3
My friend, may I ask you a question? Is it wrong to think that change is that easy or it can happen by simply getting some counseling or, even worse, having someone else do it for you.
My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.
I'm M. Clifford Brunner.
Did you know that Americans spend $50 million a year on subliminal message tapes designed to help them do every- thing from improve their self-image to stop smoking? Many people have bought these tapes, CD's and DVD's to play continuously at night as they sleep. But there's no hidden message in the National Research Council's verdict on such techniques. The Council's report, released in September 2002, concludes: "it's doubtful that subliminal messages are effective. They don't deliver the life-transforming power they promise." Although the report is over 12 pages in length, single-spaced, the long and the short of it is this: subliminal, self-help products are little more than a consumer rip-off.
We all need to change and putting our money behind needful changes isn't wrong. What's wrong is thinking change is that easy or it can happen by simply getting some counseling or, even worse, having someone else do it for you.
Take, for example, the guy went to his doctor looking for a change in his life: "You," said the doctor to the patient, "are in terrible shape. You've got to do something about it. First, tell your wife to cook more nutritious meals. Stop working like a dog. Also, inform your wife you're going to make a budget, and she has to stick to it. And have her keep the kids off your back so you can relax. Unless there are some changes like that in your life, you'll probably be dead in a month." "Doc," the patient said, "this would sound more official coming from you. Could you please call my wife and give her those instructions?" When the fellow got home, his wife rushed to him. "I talked to your doctor," she wailed. "Poor man, you've only got thirty days to live." (Source Unknown) Making changes in our lives is no joke. But, is there an easy way?
Jesus once told his disciples that the change he was looking for in their lives was a change that required a considerable amount of effort and pain. Embracing a little child he told them: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3-4). Jesus was calling upon his disciples to be totally trusting and totally without pride. Wow! That's a tall order for any of us. Isn't there something simple we can do to make it happen? There must be some way we can do this with the least amount of pain? Right? Wrong. There is no easy solution to change that requires destroying pride, envy and selfishness in our lives. There's no counselor we can run to for a prescription for this change; there's no intermediary that is more effective than our own ability to bring our lives into self-control. The way to changing our lives for Christ involves pain, real "self"-destruction. Anything short of that is nothing more than a rip-off.
We pray. Heavenly Father, it’s a tall order for any of us to make change happen in our lives. Isn't there something simple we can do to make it happen? There must be some way we can do this with the least amount of pain? Forgive us Father when we search for the easy way, the way that You have not sanctified with Your Holy Spirit. There is no easy solution to change destroying pride, envy and selfishness in our lives. There's no counselor we can run to for a prescription for this change; there's no intermediary that is more effective than our own ability to bring our lives into self-control. The way to changing our lives for Christ involves pain, real "self"-destruction. Anything short of that is nothing more than a rip-off. In Jesus name I pray. Amen!
Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.
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<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.