Changing for the Right Reason

Most importantly, changes bring a new perspective; they give us the chance to see things from another point of view and with that advantage, assess situations with more clarity.

The story is based on the Author, a boy who had a dream of becoming a pastor one day, who believed he had a calling from God at the age of 11years.

This same boy started drinking at the age of 14, smoking at the age of 16 and credit card scams at the age of 2. Finally, at the age of 25, he felt he had the world at his feet.

"If you hold yourself dear then guard, guard yourself well. The wise person would stay awake nursing himself in any of the three watches of the night, the three stages of life. First he'd settle himself in what is correct, only then teach others. He wouldn't stain his name: he is wise"

The most difficult part of changing involves the exploration of our inner world. True-change cannot just occur on the surface or our outer being. Change has to do with the renewal of one’s mind and inner being. It has to reflect in our thoughts, deeds, actions, and our entire lifestyle. Change does not only mean understanding who we are, but also why we are who we are, and how to walk in Change.

The first step we must take, in order to be transformed is to identify the obstacles that are preventing us from changing. We need to "look in the mirror" which is the Word of God; it is only through the Word that we can realize the need for God. The Word of God is not to point out our flaws but to reveal to us how God has already made us in Himself. When we encounter the Word of God, it convicts us and necessitates change. It opens our eyes to specify what the baggage, habits, emotions, and environment are and how they are keeping us from changing. It opens our eyes to realize our downfalls. Understanding these obstacles takes out the fear in us and what has been holding us back. It also gives us clarity on what we need to change and gives us directions in our change process.

These explorations of our inner world can enable us to fully understand why we have been the way we have been and done things we have done.

I was lost in the world, drinking at the age of 14years, which came about as a result of the lack of discipline in the house that I grew up in. I lacked the foundation of Christ when I was growing up. We need the foundation of Christ in us so we do not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6 says "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it". I want you to take a moment and think about the house you live in. If I asked you to describe your house to me, you would most likely tell me about the location, design, how tall it is, number of bedrooms, color, and how nice it is. But you will probably not tell me about the foundation. Perhaps you do not know anything about your foundation. Yet it is the foundation of the house that makes all the difference. Proverbs 24:3 says "By wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established." But I can assure you, you can have a bad foundation like I did but it is never too late to invite Jesus into your life and ask Him to build you up on a new foundation. You may be in your early stages of life or you may be 70 years and beyond. It doesn't matter wherever you are in life, the Master planner can set you up on His sure foundation and build something new in you. When Jesus was crucified on the cross, we were with him and our sins were crucified and nailed to the cross.

I was in a store the other day with my 8year old cousin, and he saw a bracelet on the counter and made a remark about me having the exact same thing. The cashier told him one of the kids left it there and that he could have it, As I was about to kick him by the foot not to accept it, he replied to the cashier ‘’I cannot take it, it is not mine’’ I was speechless at the time because I knew that he had gotten the right foundation from his parents and he knew he was not to take what was not his. At that moment I wish he was my son because he made me proud that day. He got the foundation and the basis which I wish I had gotten at that age. A story was told of three kids playing together, the first kid shouted saying "my dad knows the President", the second kid also came shouting "my dad knows the Vice President", and the third kid came and guess what he said, "my dad knows God, they talk everyday". Can your child say that about you as a parents?

My Dad was a social drunker, some homes cause good factor and bad factor in kids' lives when growing up. Parents, play a vital role in raising up your kids, be a role model to them, pay attention to what your child loves, Practice what your child learns at school, set aside time to read together.

Parents play an irreplaceable role in the lives of their children. This vital relationship positively impacts a child’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Parents, you are responsible for maintaining a strong involvement in the lives of your children.

The secular world will tell you that what happened to you in the past are the determining factor in the direction of your future. But as a believer, it is important not to let this saying of the secular world have an influence on you or in any way come between the plans that God has for you because the blood of the precious Lamb was slain and it has redeemed us from every curse of our past. We live in freedom far away from the conditions of our past because Jesus Christ through his sacrifice overcame our past, present and future sins.

Life has two choices: bad and good, which most people know about, but it's just that most people don't consider the outcome of the choices they make before making them.