Love means saying “I’m Sorry”

Become all you were created to be!

^{by Rob Kerby, Senior Editor}

Secret 1. You can do anything! And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith ... even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.” Matthew 21:21

There’s an incredible promise in those verses. If you can do anything in God’s strength, then you certainly can change yourself. Furthermore, Romans 12:1-2 and Ephesians 4:23 both promise us that we can be changed, in fact completely transformed by renewing our minds. What does that mean? To live differently, we must think differently. We must not seek to be like the world but yearn to be in God's service. 2 Corinthians 8:5 tells us of Christians who practiced generosity because they first gave themselves to the Lord. What motivates us to want to do that? 1 John 5:3 tells us it is our love for Him. Love is one of the strongest forces in existence. If you are having difficulty changing yourself, read 1 John 2:15-17, Matthew 10:34-37, Matthew 22:37-40, John 14:15 and 2 Corinthians 5:14-17. God's blessings and mercy are vast. He loves you!

Become all you were created to be!

Secret 3. Your faith can have immense power! And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way. Mark 10:52

Proverbs 4:23 tells us: “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.” The way you act is determined by your attitudes and intentions. Matthew 15:18-19 and Matthew 12:34-37 teach us that people and circumstances may influence us, but we do not have to give in. We do what we decide to do. 1 Corinthians 10:13 promises us that God will not allow temptations that are beyond our ability to bear. He will always make a way of escape. God always keeps his promises. Philippians 4:13 has another incredible promise for you: We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. This includes changing ourselves. But if we try to change in our own strength, we will only fail. Only if we trust in Christ's strength will we succeed. People sometimes convince themselves, "I just can't change. It's too late. Besides, I'm only human." They are not just belittling themselves; they are denying God's power. Psalm 37:5 promises you that if you’ll commit yourself to the Lord and trust Him, He will accomplish His will for you. No matter how strong a temptation you face, no matter how long you have practiced a sin, if you trust in God for the strength to change, you can change.

Become all you were created to be!

Secret 6. Become His child! Mark 16:16, Romans 10:9-10, Acts 2:38 and Acts 22:16 tell us that if you are not yet a child of God, you need to believe in Jesus, repent of your sins, confess your faith in Christ aloud to other people, and be baptized, just as Christ was. When you have done those things, Galatians 3:26,27, Romans 6:3,4 and 1 Peter 1:22 tell us that we become a child of God. When you make mistakes afterward, God's forgiveness will still be there. Acts 8:22, 1 John 1:8-10, Proverbs 28:13 and Matthew 6:12 tell us to seek Him. Pray for God's help. Matthew 6:13 shows us that we can ask God to "deliver us from evil." Tell God exactly what your problem is. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 and Colossians. 4:2 tell us to pray often and regularly. Matthew 26:36-46 shows us that we should pray -- especially at the moment when we face temptation.

Become all you were created to be!

Secret 7. Constantly seek His help! In 1 Peter 5:7, Philippians 4:6,7 and Ephesians 6:11,13 & 18, God promises that, if we ask His help, He will hear and answer. James 1:22-25 cautions us to be doers of the Word of God, not just listeners. John 16:33 gives one of Jesus' most incredible promises: I have said these things to you that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. Ephesians 4:22-32 has some great tips. Don’t just quit being the old person that you detest. Instead, become the new person that Christ promises you can be. Verse 25 cautions us to speak truth instead of falsehood. Verse 28 instructs us to work and give to those in need instead of living off of others’ efforts. Verse 29 tells us to speak good instead of evil. Verses 31 and 32 tell us to show kindness and forgiveness instead of anger and bitterness. Be patient! 2 Peter 3:18 tells us that becoming a mature Christian is a process of growth. You are born again as a baby and gradually grow up in Christ. You may look at other Christians and think, "Why can't I be like them?" But they probably took years to mature. Do not be impatient with yourself. You may not see much change today compared to yesterday. But if you diligently apply the steps taught in God's word, you will see significant progress. And so will those around you.