Back to School and New Patterns

This morning my 8th grader will get on the bus to head to school for the first time this year.  Tomorrow, I get to watch my High School junior do the same.  Praise the Lord!  Fall is here (almost).  I have enjoyed the summer with the family: the constant activity, the farm work, the complaints of nothing to do, and the precious time together.  Now I look forward to a different season.

I was thinking of several conversations I have had in recent weeks.  People were commenting on their need to make major changes in their lives.  They felt trapped.  They did not know how to proceed.  I hate that feeling!

In my experience, it takes three days to make most surface changes.  To change your diet, three days.  To change exercise patterns, three days.  Three days of will-power and you can change many patterns.  The key is that you really have to want to change.  

Many say they want to lose weight.  Yet, they eat horribly.  The reality is that they like junk food more than they wish to lose weight.  Three days and you can change patterns!

If you fall off the wagon, remember it is only three days of will-power.  Remind yourself of your goal.  Stop yourself from your destructive patterns for three days.  On day four, it will be easier!

The real issue with making surface changes is investigating why you have such surface sins.  Why do you eat wrong foods?  Do you like food or do you hate your body?  The first can be cured with will-power, the second needs the gospel to deal with your heart.  You have surface sins because your heart needs grace!

First, ask the Lord to help you see why you do what you do.  In relationships, are you controlling?  Why?  Ask for the Holy Spirit to be at work revealing the truth.  Repent of your actual heart sins.  Ask for the Lord to heal those places deep within.  

Use the three day will-power trick to force yourself to come before the Lord in repentance and then faith.    By day four, it will be easier to come into His presence in repentance and faith.  My guess is that in three weeks, you will find changes to your heart.

Remember growth is a process.  Real heart change often takes time and there will be ups and downs.  If you fall off the wagon, repent and begin again.

Every day is a new day of grace!