Change Forward

​Change is inevitable.
 
Welcome, or unwelcome, change knocks often on life’s door. When change comes a knocking, what should we do?
 
CHANGE FORWARD!
 
It is thoroughly human to resist change. You and I tend to view change as a threatening, negative experience. Why? Because change overturns the proverbial apple cart. Change disrupts the status quo. What’s familiar becomes unfamiliar when change invades our space. Things thought certain become uncertain when change rattles our cage. We become very uncomfortable when change upends our comfort zones..
 
Erroneously, we think change is sent to sabotage our desires and derail our dreams. Nothing could be further from the truth.
 
Remember Joseph the dreamer? (Genesis 37-50). Joseph is an inspiring biblical example of changing forward. Every time his God-given dream appeared to turn into a devilish nightmare, Joseph stood firm in faith, trusted God, and changed forward.
 
From a pit, to Potiphar’s house, to prison, to prime minister of Egypt…the Lord was with Joseph” (Genesis 39:2). Joseph’s circumstances changed. His God didn’t. Neither did Joseph’s trust in his God. When change challenged Joseph, he kept dreaming and doing God’s will. Faith kept him moving forward.
           

• Faithful Joseph leaves us a spiritual epitaph of trust in God. He conquered change with his change forward attitude. 

  
Christians can change forward because God is changeless. His perfect will is ageless and timeless. His plan is always going forward. Malachi 3:6 reads “For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.”
 

• GOD DOES NOT CHANGE.

 
Change does not change God. He is changeless. Those who trust in an unchanging God will not be changed by change either. Life’s inevitable changes will not consume those whose faith is rooted and grounded in a changeless God.
           
 Hebrews 13:8  “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever.” is the New Testament mirror image of Malachi 3:6.

• Being the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, Jesus Christ does not change.

 
Those who trust in Jesus need not fear change. I love what verses 6-7 have to say about our security in an unchanging Savior. “So that we may confidently say, the Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What shall man do to me? Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and consider the result of their conduct, imitate their faith”.
 
What a wonderful word of encouragement! Jesus hasn’t, doesn’t and never will change in His person, regarding His promises or His personal relationship with His believing children. Jesus Christ can be counted on in a time of change because He doesn’t change.  
           
Your life and mine will indeed change. Life does shift from time to time. When it does, imitate the faith of those who have gone before you and trusted God to GO, GROW, and CHANGE FORWARD!  
 
Here are some thoughts that will help you and me change forward when change shows up.
 

• Embrace change as a gift that can move you forward.
• Receive change as a friend. Don’t reject it as a foe. 
• See the possibilities and potential embedded in change.
• Look for God’s hand and plan in change.
• Make change work for, not against you.
• View change as a GO, not a WOE or NO!
• Trust God to cause change to propel you forward in life.

 
Change is good when God is in it!
 

• If you are going through some changes right now, like a lot of people are, choose to change forward. Welcome change! Charge forward with faith into the wonderful future the Lord has planned for you.

 
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”                          Romans 8:28
 
“For I know the plans that I have for you declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope.”                                            Jeremiah 29:11
 
A Word For Your Week: When life changes, CHANGE FORWARD!