The Lord has been absolutely changing my life through His Holy Spirit and bringing about such a life change in me. I realized it wasn't enough to just talk about what I had learned or what I knew. I started examining my life and my actions didn't always match up to what my Savior deserved. So it got me thinking about what actual life change should be. 

I don't know about your wives (if that applies), but my wife loves reality T.V. There is one show in particular that she watches called Biggest Loser. I don't know if you all are familiar with the show but it is about these huge, obese people, who want to lose weight and save their lives in most instances. And there are two trainers, Bob and Jillian, who make it their mission to push these people as hard as they can. But during each season there will always be a moment for each contestant where they will have an Oprah moment and break down and cry. They realize that they can't do it the way the have done it all their lives. They can't succeed with their goal doing it their own way. And the main thing that Bob and Jillian pound into their heads that it's easy to lose weight on the Ranch (that's what they call it), they are surrounded by gym equipment, there's no food in the fridge, and two people are screaming at them the whole time. But the real test is when they get home, and they go back to their daily lives with their kids, jobs, friends, and all the things they are used to. Will they have the will power and is there the life change to lose the weight? Because when they go home they have to do everything different from what they have done in the past. Because what they have done in the past hasn't worked. If losing weight is truly their goal, then from the time they get up, to the time they go to sleep, they have to do everything completely different to be successful. It takes that kind of commitment because it's to easy for them to go back to the way they were. 

The God of everything, your Creator, sent His Son to die on a cross due to my sin, and yours, so that we could have a relationship with Him. And if you have accepted Christ to be Lord of your life, you have made a choice to live different. You see, we can say we want to follow Christ all we want, and we can say that He is our Lord. But until there is that life change, until we start changing all the areas of our life into the complete submission of Christ, we can never truly follow Him. Christ gave everything for us, which we didn't deserve, but he requires everything from us in return. And that is where true life change starts. 

So let me encourage and pray for you this week that you will make a choice TODAY to change all aspects of you life, to make that life change for Hm. An obese person can talk about being skinny but until they shed the weight and look skinny, they're still overweight. In the same way a person can talk about Jesus and God all they want, but until they live it out, it's just empty words. 

Hebrews 12:2 (NIV) 
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Romans 12:2 (NIV) 
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is---his good, pleasing and perfect will. 


In Christ's Hands, 
Andrew 

May you eyes always be fixed on your Savior, may your hands be outstretched to those around you, and may your minds be immersed in the word of God.