Motivation to Change

If you are looking for motivation to change Psalm 1 is a perfect kickstart.

For years I beat myself up for the choices I made.
Each night I would lie awake, going over the days series of bad choices, mentally beating myself up for my impulsiveness and lack of conviction, vowing that I would be the equivalent of a spiritual navy seal the next day. I would get in and out of bed, write down a strict new routine, go back to bed and lay there for hours, scared, alone, confused and deeply sad. My anguish was usually centered around the person I wanted to be. That person that could properly call herself a child of God, because her life was in line with her beliefs. She was so beautiful inside and out, yet always just out of my reach.
Two years ago, God began to change my heart.
I began to understand the limits of my own capabilities, and vastness of His.
As my understanding grew, I slowly stopped trying to change myself from the outside in, and began to allow God to change me from the inside out.
I also found that as God did the changing I became less judgmental of others.

When God does the changing, there is no pride involved. You are left with nothing but a grateful heart.

Here is what I have learned so far:

1. Changing from the outside in, or modifying your behavior, is NOT change.
2. Behavior modification by itself is exhausting, and often leaves you with a huge sense of guilt, when it is not coupled with grace.
3. When God does the change from the inside, the outward appearance can take a long time, and that's OK. You can trust that He will do the work, and it will the real change you could not accomplish on your own.
4. God's ways are not man's ways, therefore His method of change will also not be the same as mans method of change.
5. If you focus on God and try to make the right choices, by walking with the Spirit, He will give you the desires of your heart, in time! You are still modifying some behaviors, but the power to make those changes if coming from a entirely different source.

These verses have helped me as God is continuing the work in my own life.

They remind me to:
Delight in the Lord
                               (not in pounds lost, approval from people or a large bank account)
I am an eternal being
                              (my focus and choices should be on the things that are eternal)
Gods prescription for change is very simple
                             (delight, trust and abide in the Lord and meditate on His word)
There are not steps, methods, or counting calories, carbs or pennies involved. Your focus is singular: to know, love and trust Him more. He does the rest, and His is glorified

I hope these verses do the same for you.

In love and prayer for your journey,

Hope Wirta

Psalm 37

¹ Do not fret because of those who are evil
    or be envious of those who do wrong;
² for like the grass they will soon wither,
    like green plants they will soon die away.

³ Trust in the Lord and do good;
    dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
⁴ Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

John 15:1-5

The Vine and the Branches

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes^[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Psalm 1

¹ Blessed is the one
    who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
    or sit in the company of mockers,
² but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.
³ That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.