I Want To Change...Not!

By Chad McComas

Change is something that creates mixed emotions in me. I want change...I even like it at times, but I don't like the process that change requires. It is far more comfortable to have my life be the same...I get into a rut and know what to expect and that is easier...or at least I think it is.

But change is necessary to really live! From the time we were born our lives has been changing. At no time have we been exactly the same as we were the minute before. As one great philosopher said: “We are either growing or declining in life.” He was talking about our physical life, but the same is very true for our spiritual lives as well!

We are either growing in our relationship with God or we are losing it. We can never rest on what happened yesterday...today is a new opportunity and new chance to grow. Jeremiah told us that “His mercies are new every morning.” (See Lamentations 3:22,23) How will I know this? I must experience it by being in a renewed (changed) state each day with God. God has plans for me. He has plans for you. (See Jeremiah 29:11) Plans mean “change.” Plans mean new experiences. Plans mean a process of building on the past to create a future. Plans means that we are never really there...once we arrive at any given point...there is something more in store!

Change is part of God's experience for all of us. We read that he wants to change our hearts. (See Ezekiel 36:25-27) Is this a one-time thing? Or does He constantly change our hearts? Is He constantly, through His Holy Spirit, changing our thinking, our relationships, our choices, our works of service. This is exactly what He has in mind...a life of daily connection with Him that leads us to new places and CHANGE!

When I chose the themes for The Christian Journal late last year I had no idea that they would be prophetic in a sense. Someone recently complimented me on choosing this theme in light of the national election coming next month. We are truly facing change! And with change often comes fear. But I didn't choose it for that. Others have said that with all the economic crisis around us right now I must have chosen the theme for that. But no. I didn't have a vision ahead of time. I just put the topics down as the Holy Spirit led me to do. I didn't think through it.

But...the Holy Spirit knew that I'd be facing major change at this point. I'm facing it in my own life...in my finances, in my relationships, in my ministry. And, because of the economy I'm facing it with The Christian Journal. Advertising income has declined almost 50% in the last four months. We can't continue the same as we have been doing and survive! So...change. But what? Does God want us to continue? I think so, but not the same way we have been going. Something needs to change. My advisory board tells me to continue and move ahead in faith. They tell me that we need to become a reader supported paper. (see plan on page ) That brings fear because we “haven't done it that way.” Ever heard those words in your life? God seems to be leading us in “new” ways that seem impossible and at least are very scary. But isn't change always that way?

Well, amazingly enough, our topic next month is “courage.” Yes, it takes “courage” to “change.” It takes “courage” to follow God's lead into the unknown in life! But that's next month's topic.