Change Is Good
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Psalm 139:23-24
Growing up in a world that is ever changing can be rough. For example, I have a love for jazz music. Certain artists I grew up with such as Ronnie Laws and George Benson were incredibly popular when I first got into it. Times of course have changed, and those artists have either retired or unfortunately passed away. Yet, my love for jazz has grown. Yes, I have great love for the older artist still, but newer artists have made my list, and the list changes seemingly every year. One of my new favorite artists just turned 17! What I learned from all of it is that more times than not, change is a good thing.
Change is inevitable. That is sometimes a difficult thing to talk about because we all have a level of comfort in things. Whether it is the way we work, a routine at home, or even a type of music, we are driven by the patterns of our lives. Ideally, we have bult patterns that are consistent with what is right particularly with God. However, I do not believe any of us saw the impact of social media when we were teens or had access to so much information in the palm of our hands. Some of us thought carrying an entire stereo system that weighed half our body weight was actually a cool idea! Now, I have thousands of songs on my phone and can listen peacefully while walking a mile or two. So how could God’s word written thousands of years ago drive us in world that is ever changing? The answer lies in what we allow for God to put in our hearts and minds.
Having God’s word instilled in you allows for God to work in you to change wrongful habits. I was struggling for guidance in a situation and stumbled across these verses. It was as if the light opened from the sky! The key was that the answer was within me all along because I understood what God placed in my heart. One of my concerns of course is that the heart can be deceptive as noted in Jeremiah 17:9 (The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?) So how could I be sure of what is God and not mine? Paul says in Philippians 4:7-8, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” In prayer and thankfulness, our hearts become more Christ-like. There are numerous verses where if we are protecting our heart ensuring that those things it takes in are what is good in God’s eyes, it will drive our thoughts and actions as He would see fit. Thus, the words behind Proverbs 4:23 reign true:
Guard your heart above all else,
for it determines the course of your life.
While God’s word never changes, are understanding of it continually grows. As we journey through life, we encounter various challenges and distractions that may not align with our values. It's essential to recognize when certain habits, such as excessive use of social media or other behaviors, start to impact us negatively. When we feel discomfort or agitation from these influences, it's a sign to reevaluate their place in our lives. We hold the power to shape our environment and choose the influences we allow into our lives. By immersing ourselves in the Scriptures and surrounding ourselves with things that honor God, we can ensure that our actions and reactions embody His love, teachings, and wisdom. Let us make a conscious effort to fill our hearts with God's love so abundantly that it overflows, touching everyone we encounter. How can you open to God to know your heart? What aspects of your life may be hindering your spiritual growth? My prayer is that our hearts are motivated to make Godly changes for change is a good thing. Amen.