How Change Begins

There are lots of things about my life I want to change. Some to do with my habits and vices, others with my personality.

But few of those things ever change until one important thing happens—I decide to make the change.

It seems obvious, sure. But how many times have you had real breakthroughs in your own life where the changes you wanted to make actually happened?

Not as many as you hoped for, I bet.

I was in church on Saturday night a while back when my pastor said this:

“Change begins with an act of the will.”

Nailed it. Change in my life has always happened as a result of an intentional will to make it happen.

When I wanted to wake up earlier, I forced myself into the habit, focusing on what I wanted out of the change and then making it happen.

Change is even stronger than we give it credit for.

What changes do you want to make in your life? What helps you to make those changes?

Leave a comment and let’s talk.

  • Elliott Scott

    You said it. Intentional living is key. Thanks for posting this!

    • http://aparchedsoul.com/ Grayson Pope (A Parched Soul)

      No problem, thanks for reading!

  • http://thomasemason.net/ Thomas Mason

    Yesterday our pastor brought a message and there was one line that stood out to me:  “When we do nothing we get nothing.” That spoke volumes to me that although Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit, we also need to work on our own salvation.

  • http://tcavey.blogspot.com/ TCAvey

    Yep, I have to decide to DO something. I can’t just “think” about it. I can’t WAIT for life to happen…I have to begin today to be who I want to become tomorrow! 

    Thanks for sharing your heart.

  • InciteFaith

    Grayson,

    I’ve been thinking about your post and timing on this is perfect. You ALWAYS know haha. Anyway, one thing I’m going back forth on is the question of why is it so hard for people to change.

    I love what you said about being intentional (this is my word for 2013). I think being intentional in our wanting to change forces us into a habit in making them. What I’m noticing though is even when people see the effects of their change and God moves in their life in such powerful way, they remain stuck in their same pattern of behavior.

    I’m reminded of Romans 7 where Paul is struggling with his new and old nature (flesh & spirit). It’s as if we choose to remain stuck in our old nature out of comfort than walking in freedom with the Spirit. And we remain bound to these things until something extraordinary happens and we finally see things from an eternal perspective.

    Personally, in my own life I’ve made changes I’ve needed to and the rest is being filtered out. Change is hard, but I think we make it harder than it needs to be. It’s an internal struggle and I wonder sometimes why if we are new Creations in Christ we walk around defeated. 

    Great thoughts, Grayson. Hope you’re having an amazing week!

    • http://aparchedsoul.com/ Grayson Pope (A Parched Soul)

      So glad it hit home with you! Keep up your march towards intentionality!

  • http://www.lifeofasteward.com Loren Pinilis

    Short and sweet, Grayson. I think often our failures at truly changing are because we haven’t really decided deep down to change.