"Change"

A change can sneak up quietly,

As subtle as can be,

The louder speaks society,

‘Bout what they want to see.

But the whisper of the Spirit,

May catch you unawares,

Like a river you can hear it,

To your soul it deeply shares.

The world and culture’s darkness,

Paralyzing with its blight,

Like a vulture’s talons sharpness,

Tries to steal away what’s right.

But the Spirit’s movement ever,

Is faithful in its quest,

God’s improvement and endeavor,

Will always bring the best.

And change is the essential,

Thing that we must know,

Our choices consequential,

If we ever want to grow.

Doing what we’ve always done,

We know we’ll always get,

What happened with our history’s run,

No changes happen yet.

But if we say we’re ready,

To go God’s brand-new way,

His grace will keep us steady,

And the dark can’t make us stay.

So embrace the change, my brother,

My sister, just let go,

Life’s rearrange, no other,

Than Christ can make it so.

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (Romans 12:2, NIV)

Change can be very uncomfortable. The awareness that we need to change our thinking or habit of speech or behavior can also be very subtle. To others it may seem very obvious what we need, but we ourselves can be blinded by habit and the reinforcement of the world to stay the same. Paul counsels us not to conform any longer, but let the Lord renew our minds and change our behavior. We may have run to Jesus because of His offer to relieve and pardon us. But quickly we learn that though He loves us the way we are, He loves us too much to let us stay the way we are. He calls us to change, and gives us the power to do it.

Lord, help us to change, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Mark Maggiori, markmaggiori.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Mark, and God bless you.