Change Them!
Here's a big shocker - I don't necessarily like everybody. There are some people I like some of the time, some people I like all the time, and some people I just don't like. It's been that way for as long as I can remember, and I'm pretty sure I'm not alone there. Sometimes my like or dislike of someone is situational, and sometimes it's selfish. My biggest problem there is, I want to like and be liked by everybody. It's just a desire that I have. And of course, I have my own thoughts on how that can and should work.
Sometimes in my prayer life, I find myself asking God to change the people and/or situations I don't like. It's an easy thing to do. When I get into an argument, it's, "God, change their viewpoint so that they can know that I'm right!" When I want something, but having it is dependent on someone else's actions, it's, "God, make them do this or that so that what I want can happen for me!" So many prayers are triggered by those selfish, me-first attitudes! I'm not alone here, am I?
But then I remember Jesus. At the point where He was doing His own bit of prayer wrestling, instead of continually insisting on His way, He made a request that the situation would be changed, but He didn't leave it there. Instead, He put His faith and trust in the will of the Father. "Not My will, but Your will be done." Who am I to insist on my will and my desires when Christ Himself did not?
I can't change my situations. I can't change the people around me. I have an influence on both, but actual, effective change is not mine to make. The only person I can change is myself, but left to my own devices, I know I'll even mess that up. I'd rather let God take control of the changing process. He's had a perfect plan from the beginning. It's about time I surrendered to it and stopped insisting on it all going my way.
God, you know the desires of my heart, and if it's Your will, then let it be. But I'm done asking You to change my situations. I'm done asking you to change other people for my benefit. Yes, Lord, I want everyone to know You and to follow Your will and calling for their lives, but I pray that it's Your will working in them, and not mine. Change me. Change my selfish heart. Make me an inspiration to my surroundings. May those who see my life be attracted to Your will through me. Not my will, Lord, but Yours be done. Amen.
We can't expect any more change out of anyone else than what we're willing to go through ourselves. But here's the cool thing - when we change for the better, it's not too hard to see that positive change happening around us, too. Let's give our lives to God and trust Him with the results. I know they'll be better than anything I could think to do!
Sometimes in my prayer life, I find myself asking God to change the people and/or situations I don't like. It's an easy thing to do. When I get into an argument, it's, "God, change their viewpoint so that they can know that I'm right!" When I want something, but having it is dependent on someone else's actions, it's, "God, make them do this or that so that what I want can happen for me!" So many prayers are triggered by those selfish, me-first attitudes! I'm not alone here, am I?
But then I remember Jesus. At the point where He was doing His own bit of prayer wrestling, instead of continually insisting on His way, He made a request that the situation would be changed, but He didn't leave it there. Instead, He put His faith and trust in the will of the Father. "Not My will, but Your will be done." Who am I to insist on my will and my desires when Christ Himself did not?
I can't change my situations. I can't change the people around me. I have an influence on both, but actual, effective change is not mine to make. The only person I can change is myself, but left to my own devices, I know I'll even mess that up. I'd rather let God take control of the changing process. He's had a perfect plan from the beginning. It's about time I surrendered to it and stopped insisting on it all going my way.
God, you know the desires of my heart, and if it's Your will, then let it be. But I'm done asking You to change my situations. I'm done asking you to change other people for my benefit. Yes, Lord, I want everyone to know You and to follow Your will and calling for their lives, but I pray that it's Your will working in them, and not mine. Change me. Change my selfish heart. Make me an inspiration to my surroundings. May those who see my life be attracted to Your will through me. Not my will, Lord, but Yours be done. Amen.
We can't expect any more change out of anyone else than what we're willing to go through ourselves. But here's the cool thing - when we change for the better, it's not too hard to see that positive change happening around us, too. Let's give our lives to God and trust Him with the results. I know they'll be better than anything I could think to do!
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