“All you can change is yourself, but sometimes that changes everything!”
~ Gary W. Goldstein
Change is a very curious thing. Change evokes a lot of different emotions. We are frightened of change. We are obsessed by change. We look forward to change. We abhor change. Oftentimes, when people think about change, they think about how others need to change, not themselves. The fact of the matter, though, is that we cannot change anyone else. The only person we can change is ourselves.
And many times, we are the ones that need to do the changing anyway. The sooner we realize this, the better off we will be. It is a waste of time and energy to attempt to change someone else. It is a great spiritual boon to work on changing ourselves.
It would be wise if we used some time today to make a “spiritual inventory” of what we have/who we are. After that, we need to make a list of the things that we need to change in our lives. Once that list is compiled, we need to make plans to change.
Don’t fall into the trap of trying to do too much too soon. If you do, you will set yourself up for failure and will not make any further attempts. Instead, focus on small and practical things that you can do. For example, you can say that you are going to begin a ministry of visiting the sick and shut-in at the nursing home. That is huge. Way too huge. You will walk in, be overwhelmed by the sights and sounds and leave. If, instead, you say that you going to visit a particular person whom you know to be sick or shut-in, that is a very attainable goal. Your visit will be welcome to that person and will spur you on to future visits. Before you know it, you might then be involved in full-fledged ministry in a nursing home, hospital, or hospice.
You sights can be high but your aim should be low and more immediate. That is the way, eventually, to reach those high and lofty sights.
Change the world, my friend. Just begin by changing yourself. One small step at a time.
FAITH ACTION: Ask God to give you the insight to know what needs to change in your life and the courage to effect that change.