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I’d like to ask you a question: Why is it you haven’t changed those things about yourself which you know need changing? You say, “I’ve tried, but I just can’t do it!”
Good! That’s exactly where you need to start. Recognize you can’t do it on your own. All of us have stories to tell about trying so hard to change some bad habit; making a New Year’s resolution to start a good habit; promising ourselves and God we’re going to change. Only to wake up a few days or weeks later and have to confess, it didn’t last; it didn’t work.
In order to change, we first have to realize we can’t do it. Sounds like a contradiction, but it’s the truth. Paul wrote to the Corinthians that it’s only when we see how weak we are that we can be strong. So often I become discouraged with my inability to change, and I just say, “Lord, I want to change but I can’t. I think it’s impossible for me, Lord.” And when I finally give up, I think I can see the smile on his face, and hear him say, “I’ve been waiting for you to realize you’ll never make it on your own.”
For me this is a continual lesson. My nature and personality is to take charge and do it myself. It never dawns on me that I can’t do something, so in my own energy and self-determination, I make valiant efforts and discover I cannot change myself. When I finally give up, then I come back to that verse in Philippians 4:13 which says, “I can do all things through him (Christ) who strengthens me.”
Today’s humanistic philosophy tells us we can do and be anything we want to. “I can do all things…” – that’s what the world system wants you to believe. But it’s a lie. You cannot do all things, but you can do all the things that God created you to do—all the good works he ordained for you before you were born. You can do all those things, but only through Christ who gives you the strength. When you realize you can’t, and you go to Jesus daily for strength because you know you can’t do it, then the miracles start to happen.
Maybe today you need to begin the change process by admitting that you can’t. No need pretending with the Lord, anyway; so, tell him what he already knows: You can’t change. But ask him to change you through his strength.
And then be willing to put the discipline in place that change requires. If you will do that, you’re in for some neat surprises. Maybe the discipline is the hard part for you. Well, I’ve found that sometimes it’s very helpful to impose some disciplines in my life that will help me change, and I’d like to offer you a Chart for Change which I’ve designed.