The following is not from my own head, rest assured, it is my notes from this past weekend's conference entitled, "Embracing Change." Granted, you are missing out on our speaker's personal stories and stronger explanations. However, I'm hoping some of the meaning is not totally lost:
4 Steps to Embrace Change - S. Williamson
Awareness – Ammunition – Action Plan - Accountability
1. Awareness
•Change isn’t always easy, but God is always good
•God wants us to slow down (Matthew 11:28-30): weary- to be beaten out; burdened – loaded down; invitation, “Come to me”
•We should allow him to search our hearts
•God will restore us!
•Find refreshment in what we do
•When we slow down, we can become aware of what God wants, we become aware of sin and their consequences. God wants to restore us! (Psalm 139)
•Ask God, “Would you search my heart? Where do I need to slow down? What am I ‘stuffing’?”
2. Ammunition
•Ephesians 2:1-9
•John 20:16 (an adjustment is needed)
•Change begins with God, not us
•We are born with sin nature, but once we become Christians, have God’s divine nature dwelling in us as well. These two are constantly at battle. We have the power to choose which we listen to every day
•Galatians 5:16-17; Romans 7:15-21
•Need to learn to breathe spiritually: exhale first (confess sin) then inhale (take in God, “whatever you want Lord!”)
•Romans 12:1-2, transformed = a continuous state
•Ask God to show you, “What do I need to yield to?”
3. Action Plan
•General Steps: abide (John 15:1-5); witness for Him; invest in eternity
•Specific Steps – our “to do” list (Ephesians 2:10): each person’s will be different. What is God calling you to do?
•We have been changed to effect change
4. Accountability
•Born out of friendship
•Look for safe people
S – sensitive and sympathetic
A – aware and accepting
F – forgiving and forthright
E – earnest and eager
•Must have grace and truth
Truth without grace is mean
Grace without truth is license
•We should desire to be:
Trusting (Psalms 139: 23-24)
Transparent (a willingness to be known)
Truthful (Proverbs 12:22, James 5:16, Proverbs 51:6)
Time (Ecclesiastes a time for everything)
As Christians, we are marred by sin, but marked by the blood of Christ!
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