How often do you see a child run before they learn how to walk? Do most athletes get to be professionals without ever playing in high school? I know, most teens get their drivers license before they ever get a lesson, right? Then why do new Christians often think that they have to completely change everything in their lives the day they are saved?
I'm not saying that it's not a good idea to get rid of a lot of things from the old you, but I think that sometimes people try to get rid of everything so fast that they end up forgetting what drew them to Jesus in the first place. I think that people really need to see this as a process instead of an inhalation of their former self. When people make such drastic changes in their lives many find that they don't like who they've become ,and end up falling away from God all together.
God knows who you are, and who you are going to be. He knows that you are not perfect. In fact people, he made us this way. Yes, there are changes that you are going to find inside of yourself along the process, and many things that were in your past life will be gotten rid of in time. He has a plan for you in all of this and the transformation will take place in his time. For some that may be right this very minute, but my thinking is that it's step by step.
I know that it has taken me a long time to get to where I am now in my life. When I first became a Christian I still listened to the same music, watched the same TV shows, had some of the same friends, etc. It was over time that these things changed. I've found I don't want the sports magazine just because of the once a year swim suit magazine. I've found that I don't watch the same movies as many had a lot of language I don't need to hear, or sex I don't need to see. I lost a few friendships because our goals in life just didn't meat up any more. Yet, this all didn't happen all at one time - it was gradual. I also didn't have to get rid of everything that made me who I am, I just had to adjust some things. I'm still a big sports fan, that only changed in that I don't spend all my free time eating up all the sports knowledge I can get. I'm still a big music buff, I just changed the music's lyrics by changing to bands, singers, and groups that had God as the focus instead of sex, love, and rock and roll. Traci and I still enjoy watching TV and movies, we just don't have to watch the stuff that makes it seem like life is all about sin, greed, and stuff like that.
I know that some times it's been hard to give things up to God because they use to be so important to me, but I've realized that he's even more important than anything else in this world. It's not always easy, but that is why he's right there walking with you the entire process. It's also why he's filling your life with good things that in time you'll really learn to appreciate. Keep on fighting the fight, it's worth the struggle. Take the process one day at a time, stopping to smell those roses God planted along the way.
I'm not saying that it's not a good idea to get rid of a lot of things from the old you, but I think that sometimes people try to get rid of everything so fast that they end up forgetting what drew them to Jesus in the first place. I think that people really need to see this as a process instead of an inhalation of their former self. When people make such drastic changes in their lives many find that they don't like who they've become ,and end up falling away from God all together.
God knows who you are, and who you are going to be. He knows that you are not perfect. In fact people, he made us this way. Yes, there are changes that you are going to find inside of yourself along the process, and many things that were in your past life will be gotten rid of in time. He has a plan for you in all of this and the transformation will take place in his time. For some that may be right this very minute, but my thinking is that it's step by step.
I know that it has taken me a long time to get to where I am now in my life. When I first became a Christian I still listened to the same music, watched the same TV shows, had some of the same friends, etc. It was over time that these things changed. I've found I don't want the sports magazine just because of the once a year swim suit magazine. I've found that I don't watch the same movies as many had a lot of language I don't need to hear, or sex I don't need to see. I lost a few friendships because our goals in life just didn't meat up any more. Yet, this all didn't happen all at one time - it was gradual. I also didn't have to get rid of everything that made me who I am, I just had to adjust some things. I'm still a big sports fan, that only changed in that I don't spend all my free time eating up all the sports knowledge I can get. I'm still a big music buff, I just changed the music's lyrics by changing to bands, singers, and groups that had God as the focus instead of sex, love, and rock and roll. Traci and I still enjoy watching TV and movies, we just don't have to watch the stuff that makes it seem like life is all about sin, greed, and stuff like that.
I know that some times it's been hard to give things up to God because they use to be so important to me, but I've realized that he's even more important than anything else in this world. It's not always easy, but that is why he's right there walking with you the entire process. It's also why he's filling your life with good things that in time you'll really learn to appreciate. Keep on fighting the fight, it's worth the struggle. Take the process one day at a time, stopping to smell those roses God planted along the way.
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