Have you ever been in a place in life where you realize that for all your efforts it seems like things have been in vain? Have you ever been frustrated at the things that never seem to change…only to find that it was you that wasn’t changing? If so, then you’re in good company, as I believe that everyone has been there at one point or another but I write to bring this encouragement to you. Change is more than possible it’s inevitable; but if you find yourself as the one who needs to do the changing take a minute and consider this:
“Often the change we focus on is external but the change that is needed is internal.”
We strive to change our hair, our clothes, our diet, our friends, our hobbies and anything in our lives that we place worth in. While there is a time for us to change (see Ecclesiastes 3:1-8) what has been, it’s far to easy to do these things and then stop there. There comes a point where that is no longer good enough and it fails to satisfy or be the change that we have been seeking. At that point what can we do when we have changed all that we can change? Usually, after all that hard work and effort, it is then that we begin to consider what God desires for us to change but I challenge you to look at that now instead of later.
The psalmist King David pointed out a powerful point in his song-prayer of repentance to God in Psalm 51. It is found simply hidden in verse 6: “Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts…” I say hidden because many times we can speed over this line and never realize the power of this truth. In full honesty this is a verse that never leaves me alone. Ponder on that, take a moment…God desires truth in the inward parts…and in reality that is not our natural default. David in his prayer/song acknowledges that God wants us to be pure in our hearts, thoughts and motives (there’ll be more on that later…).
This is where the truth of this line resounds in me…for all my faults, no matter how I try to cover and dress them up at the end of the day if I am not 100% truthful then I am not pleasing God. Now don’t get me wrong I am not endorsing, promoting or teaching legalism but this truth of an inward truth only deepens my faith to depend on Him, His love and grace even more. For as the writer of Hebrews teaches “But without faith it is impossible to please Him…(verse 11:6a).”
In meditating on this verse (Psalm 51:6a) and seeing the areas that I fail in and have room for vast improvement , show me my inadequacy without God and strengthens my dependency upon His grace for it is sufficient for me (2 Cor. 12:9)! I pray that this post challenges you in the core of who you are and I encourage you to be intentional and invite the Great Teacher, the Holy Spirit in to continue the work within that He started in you (see Philippians 1:6). That’s been my prayer lately and I am challenged & strengthened for it! God bless guys!
