Real Change

Change takes time and is reflected in our actions not our words.  When we truly desire to change we want people to know that "we have changed".  We can say it, but true change is only demonstrated in our long term actions.  If we have to say we have changed to try to convince others we have changed, we probably have the "want to" but the truth about whether we have truly changed will only be proven over time (and we want it to be done/proven now).  Our biggest enemies in truly desiring to change? 1. The fact that change is rarely instant, in that although we have the "want to" we may likely fall again before we truly live as a changed individual. 2. The second is possibly more painful than the first, and is summed up in one word... Consequences.  For every action there are consequences, especially when our past was defined by a string of poor choices. Consequences may affect us for a small portion of our lives or for the remainder of our lives depending on the severity of what we did in our past. The good news… We can change and we can be different by the power of the Holy Spirit! Only trusting in Jesus brings about true change that is reflected in our hearts and minds and ultimately in our lives. And when we learn to daily walk with Him, what once was the old us will fade away and the new us will become who we are. That is real change!  And people will notice, and we won't have to tell them we've changed. PCW