Tuesday, August 03, 2010

In Other Words--Change Not Myself

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“Instead of trying to fix yourself, fix your gaze on Me, the lover of your soul. Rather than using your energy to judge yourself, redirect it to praising Me. Remember that I see you clothed in my righteousness, radiant in My perfect love.”

Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence
by Sarah Young


I find it so easy to get caught up in the things that I know need changing. I need to be more patient. I ought to eat healthy. I need to exercise more. I ought to model Jesus to my children and my friends better. I need, I need, I need...

And I can be so caught up in the "I needs" and the "I oughts" that I totally become self-defeating. Because the more I focus on the things that need to change, the more I realize that I can't change them. I can make small efforts, but I cannot make the total change. If the things that I needed to fix were totally external, perhaps I would stand a chance. But they aren't external. They are internal. They are heart issues. And the only one who can change the heart is Jesus.

So I need to focus on Jesus and let him change me. As he changes me from the inside out, I will be able to make the external changes that are needed. But only because he has changed the internal first.

Cast your cares on the LORD
and he will sustain you;
he will never let the righteous fall.
Psalm 55:22

Father today I cast my cares on you. I make the decision to take my eyes off of myself and focus them on you. Help me to fix my eyes on you. Quiet the voices in my head that tell me I should do something and quiet the anxiety in my heart. Help me to rest in you. Help me to trust you to change the motivations of my heart that will then allow me to have success in changing external habits. Amen.


Debbie at Heart Choices is our hostess for In Other Words this week. Please go and visit her, encourage her and participate in the conversation.

8 comments:

Debbie Petras said...

You really got to the heart of the matter when you wrote:

"If the things that I needed to fix were totally external, perhaps I would stand a chance. But they aren't external. They are internal. They are heart issues. And the only one who can change the heart is Jesus."

Yes, they really are heart issues! Thanks for joining in and sharing your thoughts.

Blessings and love,
Debbie

Denise said...

Such an inspiring post dear.

Tami said...

Where were you when I was struggling through my post last night? I needed to hear this then! Only Jesus can change me. Don't I know it.

GodsOwn/Bernice said...

Yes Lord...CHANGE and keep my heart Lord!

Great post
Blessings
Bernice

Karen said...

Bingo girl! I love your "self-defeating" comment. Isn't that the truth. We concentrate on the wrong things long enough, the I need, I ought, I should, I, I, I, that we become self-defeating. All Satan has to do is turn us on ourselves and we self destruct. Isn't that a pity! Good job.

GranthamLynn said...

So right. I love how he changes us from the inside. Thanks for sharing. And thanks for visiting.
Have a Blessed Wednesday,
Sherry

eph2810 said...

Amen to your prayer, MiPa. I like what you said about the changes need to come internally. You are right, we might stand a chance if they were external.

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on this week's IOWT quote.

Love & peace,
<>< Iris

Loni said...

Ohhh the internal fixes . . . YES!

THANK YOU for sharing this week. I go through the "I oughts" often, and then lose HIS focus.

Blessings ~ Loni