Renewal Begins With Acceptance

In this first month of the year, we often focus on changing our lives.  Usually by the end of the month, we're exhausted by our failure, discouraged by our lack of initiative, and hopeless that we will ever change!

Did you ever think that you might not really need to change?  Did you ever think that if you DO need to change, you can sit back and let the One who made you do the changing for you?

Here's what I want you to do this week.  Make a list of 5 things about yourself that you'd like to change.  Dig deep!  It's easy to say, lose 20 pounds, work out 4 times a week, find a hot guy.  ;0)  But those are just outward things.  Think about the inward things that have created the outward circumstances.

Once you have your 5 things - for example, instead of losing 20 pounds, maybe you're list would say, figure out why I am putting food in my mouth when I am not hungry - then I just want you to leave it alone.  Don't beat yourself up about it.  Take a day or so and just let this list circulate in your brain.

Then I'd like to see you turn to your Creator and say, "Your turn."  Talk to God, really talk to Him about the five things.  He made you.  He made your impulses and desires, He knows why you eat when you're not hungry, and He can help you figure out if there's really something you need to change.  Maybe you don't need to change it at all!

There are lots of ways to talk to God.  You can have an audible conversation.  You can have an internal conversation.  You can write a letter, you can journal, you can write a song or a poem.  It doesn't have to be - PRAYER!!!!!!  A - Oh Merciful God, Thou Hast Created Me - diatribe.  No one hears this but you - This isn't Sunday School.  This is your life!  So just talk to Him, however you're comfortable.

If you feel like commenting, let me know how this exercise is going for you.  It'll be tough!!  But you can do it!  More info about renewal next week.