Have you ever desperately cried out “change me, Lord?” I have.

I vividly remember a time I said this many years ago. Challenges had piled up. Demands were high. Expectations even higher. I was pulled in too many directions. And I felt overwhelmed.

Interestingly, with all my heart, I knew I was exactly where God wanted me. However, it was as if He forgot my humanness and my limits. Actually, it also seemed He didn’t realize how much difficulty was involved in what He asked of me. The cost was too high. As a result, I was wrestling stress, frustration, and even some anger in my heart.

So, I cried out to God – “Change me, Lord! Help me!”

This is #4 in a series on Hope. It’s been exciting to explore hope. Check out previous articles in the series.

What Happened Next?

Surprisingly, not in an audible voice, yet I clearly heard God speak into my spirit. He said –

“Yes, I will change you. But it will always take place in the moment. That means, in the middle of the stress. While you are overwhelmed. During the time of testing. But I promise – I will change you . . . if you turn to Me during those moments and obey in every detail. I will show you how to do this. So, calm yourself in Me when you are at your edge. Come close to Me when you are tempted to yield to stress, frustration and anger. Are you willing?”

I remember I said, “Yes, Lord. I will do everything You tell me. In the moment. Even when it feels scary, unknown, and like it’s too much. You are my Lord and Savior. Thank You ahead of time.”

Change Me, Lord

A year later, while I was in the midst of very similar stresses as the year before, the Lord reminded me of that event. I was shocked. Quite literally, God had changed me! I was a different person.

God had honored my faith and obedience. Plus, He had blessed my hard work as I continually did what He showed me in the moment – as I turned to Him. Actually, this “back and forth” between God and me had become my new pattern. And frankly, I hadn’t even noticed the change because I was so busy doing what He told me each moment. My sincere goal was to please Him.

Interestingly, as I thought back to the year before – then evaluated my heart currently – I was overwhelmed. However, this time it was a very good overwhelmed. I was filled with gratitude at what God had accomplished in my spirit. All He had asked of me was to trust and obey Him. Apparently, as I busied myself doing that, He was busy miraculously changing my defaults and my spiritual DNA.

Stunned – and in worship – I realized I now had a measure of –

• Love.
• Joy.
• Peace.
• Patience.
• Kindness.
• Goodness.
• Faithfulness.
• Gentleness and
• Self-control.

 

Plus, I was much more creative and focused than a year before. Of course, with lots of room to yet grow and improve.

Room To Improve

Of course, I had definitely not “arrived.” Nor even approached perfection. However, those fruits were certainly present! I could scarcely take it in as I reflected on the training God had given me.

Incidentally, it never occurred to me I’d be getting a big basketful of fruit by simply listening to God and doing what He told me to do each moment. Yet, there I was – enjoying more of the Fruit of the Spirit than ever before. In essence, I was living with fresh new hope.

Change Means “Something New“

Change means “something new.” It means “something different” than what you had or were before. Often, you must discard old things to embrace new good things. In other words, this process involves –

• Let go of something old.
• Pick up something new.
• Remember, it involves time.
• The secret – surrender each moment to God’s power.

 

Rev. 21:5 says, “I am making everything new!” God makes this promise to anyone who simply trusts and obeys Him in details of living.

• In moments of stress.
• When you feel overwhelmed.
• Pulled in too many directions.
• Even when you feel frustration and anger rising in your heart.

 

God makes everything new. Plus, He introduces new hope and wants to share it with you.

Eternity

Incidentally, God’s promise goes forward into eternity. One day everything will be new. A new Heaven and earth. No evil or temptation. Reality will be –

• Delightful beauty.
• Purity.
• Innocence.
• Glory.
• Adventure.
• Peace.
• Joy.
• Engaging activities.
• Fellowship.

 

Remarkably, God wants to start this work in you now. Just say – “change me, Lord!”

Are you ready for something new?

Pass The Baton

During the Olympics, relay races are run with a team of superbly trained runners and a baton. The critical moment during such a race is when the baton is passed from one runner to the next.

Races are lost or won based on speed, true. Yet, they are also lost or won based on accurate, secure placement of the baton. This element of the race is drilled again and again.

It’s a big deal to pass the baton.

Paul’s Personal Race

Paul talks about the race of life. Equally, he provides training points from his own life.

Paul, the traditional Jew was dramatically converted. Consequently, he had to cry out – “Change me, Lord!” Then, he received new hope and became God’s global messenger.

• He ran a strong race.
• His passion became “pass the baton.”
• Subsequently, he had credibility to train others to run well.
• Additionally, He knew how to train passing the baton.
• Plus, Paul broadcasted a critical message for God that affects your personal race.

 

Essentially, through Paul’s message about his own race, he presents an invitation. God invites anyone who wants to be changed. He transforms people into the character of Jesus. Plus, He gives hope.

Paul’s Baton-Passing

Particularly, Paul focuses on the “baton-pass.” Further, he insists it’s passed accurately, securely to others. He knows it’s necessary for others to run their race. Plus, he’s concerned the gospel should never be compromised.

Remember, when Paul was a Pharisee leader, he was proud. Probably cocky. In contrast, as a follower of Jesus, he is completely different. He’s humble. He writes with notable passion. Plus, his baton-pass focuses on everyone, everywhere. On you and me.

Your Personal Race

God’s grace is one of His personal themes. Jesus represents God’s grace. Subsequently, He continues to completely change you from the inside-out – if you surrender each moment in the moment. Essentially, the Spirit of God transforms you into a strong runner. His training also specializes in passing the baton.

These questions help you examine your race.

• What kind of race are you running?
• Are you training to be like Jesus each moment. Particularly, in stressful moments. Times when frustration rises. Even when anger rises in your heart.
• Have you given your rights to Jesus in training under Him?
• Further, are you willing to embrace new hope?
• How efficiently are you passing the baton to others?

 

The more you become like Jesus (the Light), the more you see things you need to change.

Stay on this course, and you’ll find something new each day. This is God fulfilling His gracious promise – “Yes, I will change you. But it will always take place in the moment.”

God’s Change-Me Plan

God’s change-me plan is three-fold:

1. God’s grace and power work in you in ways you never imagined.
2. You work out your salvation under His training.
3. You pass the baton to others.

 

Very uniquely, God insists on several character quality requirements to practice as you surrender to His “in-the-moment training.” Things like –

• Humility.
• Thanksgiving.
• Courage.
• Flexibility.
• Immediate receptivity.
• Resolve.

 

Application Thoughts And Questions

With those requirements in mind, some questions for you.

1. Have you cried out to God – change me, Lord?!
2. Are you ready for new hope?
3. Are you expecting God’s grace and power in new ways you never imagined? That’s His part.
4. How diligently are you working out your salvation – in each moment? That’s your part.
5. Is there anything you need to eliminate or change?
6. What training maneuvers should you focus on to be more effective?
7. Are you training in perseverance to run stronger each day?
8. Are you passing the baton to others in your scope of influence?
9. How would you describe your own personal race?
10. Are you putting new hope in God as you ask Him to change you?

 

This Series On Hope

1. A Message of Hope
2. Pinhole of Hope
3. You Are Included
4. Change Me, Lord! – New Hope
5. Strong Hope
6. Let Go. It’ll Be O.K.

 

* Portions of this content come from our book – More e-Pistles For An i-Generation: Relevant In A Digital Age – a devotional book that takes you through all Paul’s letters that follow 1 and 2 Corinthians. You’ll find practical action points that help you know God better and nurture personal growth. You can find this book in our bookstore: www.aliveandactivelife.org/store.

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