Grace for Change

Why do we keep thinking that God understands so it’s okay to sin? Why are we constantly, telling God the same old story of excuses as we did last year? When the year ended there were so many things you told God you wouldn’t do again, but seven days later and you have done it. And now you are filled with guilt and you are thinking maybe you can never change.

Here’s the thing about change; you don’t just say God I want to be better at the altar, you actually make a step towards change.

In rehabilitation, addicts first acknowledge that they are addicts and then begin the process towards breaking the seal of addiction. Jesus didn’t give his life up just so you can be a Pharisee. No, that is not okay. We can’t really worship because we still have that chain of guilt and sin tangled around our waist. We must worship God in spirit and in truth. If you are waiting for a divine something that will help you stop sinning; you are late, because it’ll not happen. Jesus already saved you from sin so why do you have to go back to sin? That is like saying you want to lose weight and the whole time you are eating junk food, no exercise – nothing. When you tell God you’re going to change and that you need his help; He honors that request. Yes, He actually does. But most of the time, you don’t. You tell God you want to change and you go back to the same old life. It’s lunacy to think that you can do the same thing and get different results.

To change you need to first break the seal of that addiction, or sin, or problem by first acknowledging that it is a problem.

Confession breaks the seal of sin. It breaks the power of sin and pride. Confession shows you off as a terrible person. But there can’t be a revival without confession. To others you may be a terrible person, but God appreciates the bold step of coming as the true person you are.

There is no point in being a Christian if you are afraid of people not liking you. Being a true Christian is beautiful and you have been feeling too ugly for too long because you are not true to yourself. When you confess you see your own depravity. But you have to understand that the zeal for change should precede a confession or it’ll be meaningless. After confession, and forgiveness, you go back and change your routine. You need to take time and figure out which things trigger that sin, addiction, and problem, and break the cycle.

You have to break the routine, and change something. Most of these things require discipline and effort. To do that you need ask for help.

Help from God. Help from your pastor or close spiritual leaders you can trust. God always makes His grace available for change. He said to Paul that His grace is sufficient to see him through.