A sweet momma on our ABC Jesus Loves Me Facebook page shared a fear she has. It’s one that many of us have. She fears that she will “never figure it out or change.” The muck of sin will always be present and striving to be better will always be futile. It’s a fear that defeats a person.
How I understand! I’ve tried to improve myself by better organization or constructing a new schedule. Maybe if I join a Bible study, that will fix everything. I have even asked for accountability. I’ve tried bribing myself (not very effective, I might add). All to no avail.
What I have come to realize is that this momma’s statement is absolutely correct. We can’t change ourselves. We alone will never figure it out. We can try to get more organized. We can try a new study or curriculum or self-help book. We can try a new diet or exercise program. But, nothing is going to work.
Kind of depressing, isn’t it.
Actually, it is very freeing.
If we could change ourselves we would be basing our salvation on works. The Bible says in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.”
The only way to turn my behavior, attitude, and heart around is for the Holy Spirit to come in and transform my heart inside out. God is the only One who can take the ugly and make it beautiful.
This has taken me a very long time to realize and even then I fought the truth. (I share about my journey in my ebook.) But so much freedom and peace has come now that I realize the change doesn’t rest in my hands.
Sweet friends, if you are discouraged with the cycle of sin you are in – anger, jealousy, lacking self-control, over eating – ask the Holy Spirit to guide your change. The change probably won’t happen over night. Actually it may take years for the change to come to fruition. But baby steps will occur if you seek the One who can truly change you.
