Have you ever decided to make a change? I mean a really big change! A change of habit is a very hard thing to do. They say that if you can train yourself to do something or break yourself from doing something for 21 days, you’ve either created a new habit or broken an old habit. After the process of breaking a habit, maybe you’re like me, and you’ve asked yourself some questions like this:
Did I really I spend that much time doing that?
For example, I didn’t realize how much I was on my phone.
Was I really that dependent on caffeine?
Did I really drink that much sweet tea in one day?
I’m sure you get the idea.
I would suggest to you there may be some things that you’ve already laid down in your life which you’d be better off not picking back up. I would also say that there are some things you need to pick up that’ll cause you to be a better person. Once you’ve developed or changed a habit that produces a much better result for you, don’t lay that down. Rather, continue in it.
Change is a very hard thing for many of us, but you’ve proven you can do it. Now keep those changes happening in your life! I want to warn you though that not every day will be mountain-top experiences or full of victories; however, the next day you need to get up and try again.
In November of 2016, I made an inward decision. In December 2016, I wrote it down in the front of my daily planner. It was just two simple words: Get Healthy! I first had to be honest that the life I was leading wasn’t producing the results I wanted. I knew it would be difficult, but I also knew I needed to do it. I could not continue the path I was on. I made a plan; beginning in February I would make a daily commitment to get healthy.
Getting healthy wasn’t just about exercise. I had to change my behaviors. Therefore, I made some commitments and asked Melissa to help me. She was the verbal conscience to my commitment.
Here were the commitments I made in order to get healthy:
1. I would make better choices in my eating. I had to stop stress-eating. (No more pizza at midnight, but please know I’m still craving Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia ice cream daily!)
2. I would go to bed at a set time. (I’ve operated on little to no sleep most of my adult life, which isn’t good!)
3. I would make a commitment to exercise. (I hate cardio!)
4. I would rest my mind, leave work at work, and enjoy time off. (I struggle with guilt and would even have anxiety (fear) while relaxing.)
5. I would listen to other people in regards to health. (Especially Melissa)!
This may not seem like a big deal to you, but this would be a complete reprogramming of my life. You see, I slept as necessary, ate at odd hours, worked constantly, and had a hard time listening to other people. After all, I wasn’t sick! But I wasn’t healthy.
Long before it showed on the scale or in my clothes, there was an inward transformation happening. Before it showed on the outside, change was happening in my mind. I thought I’d lose a few pounds. Instead, I lost twenty-five pounds. I’ve never felt better; physically, mentally, and spiritually.
I might say to each of you who are in the Valley of Decision: Whether the decision is spiritually or naturally, you can do it. Long before anyone else sees the transformation, you’ll know you’ve been transformed. It’s the transformation of your mind!
Romans 12 speaks to this:
“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2 (NLT)
So, you have to make some decisions to keep the change.
Below are a few decisions you need to make:
1. I’m going to give myself completely to God.
2. I’m going to make better choices in regards to my life. I’m going to make decisions based on God’s Word and not the things of the world.
3. I’m going to allow God to transform my mind.
4. I’m going to rest in the peace of Almighty God.
5. I’m going to listen to what God is saying to me.
If you will approach your life in this manner, I can assure you, you will make some significant changes. And it won’t be a fleeting, temporary change either. It will be a change you will make every effort, every single day, to maintain!
You must log in to post a comment.