Saturday, January 12, 2019

Making Changes


by Beth Vogt @BethVogt

Some quotes you just can't argue with. 

I could leave it at that and this would be a very short blog post, wouldn't it?

Yep. Feeling a bit sassy today.

Expounding on the whole "making changes" theme:
  • People in my life can influence me so that I see the need to change. 
  • People can inspire me by the changes they've made in their lives so that I want to do what they did and change, too. 
  • People can even confront me and tell me I should change. Demand that I change.

But only I can change my life. It's as simple, and as hard, as that.

Realizing that I'm responsible for the change in my life—or the lack of any change—is a sure sign of growing up, wouldn't you agree?You can't blame someone else for who you are, who you're becoming, or what you do or don't do. 

Now for me, because I'm on a faith journey with God, there's also a spiritual element to this "only I can change my life" principle.Because sometimes ... sometimes I tell God "I can't" and He tells me "I know." And His words are bathed in grace and love. And I'm reminded that some life changes—the best life changes—are miraculous.

What produces change in your life? What's been one of the biggest changes in your life? Or even one of the smallest, but it had the most sweeping effect on you?

TWEETABLE

Award-winning author Beth K. Vogt believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” Having authored nine contemporary romance novels and novellas, Beth's first women's fiction novel with Tyndale House Publishers, Things I Never Told You, released May 2018. Moments We Forget, book two in the Thatcher Sisters Series, releases May 2019. An established magazine writer and former editor of the leadership magazine for MOPS International, Beth blogs for Novel Rocket and The Write Conversation and also enjoys speaking to writers group and mentoring other writers. Visit Beth at bethvogt.com.

4 comments:

  1. Beth,
    When I despair over changes I know the Lord wants to make in me that seem impossible, Philippians 1:6 gives me hope: “He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.” This reminds me that while I must do my part in the transformation God is doing in me, He will never leave me to my own resources. His transforming power will continue to conform me to his image. I find great comfort in this when I despair over change that’s taking far too long, in my opinion. Thanks for this post today. God’s blessings on you!

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    1. Good morning, Lori:
      Philippians 1:6 is one of my anchor verses -- a scriptural truth that holds me steady in life -- and one that I've prayed over my children for years. Thank you for sharing it here.

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  2. You are absolutely right Ms. Beth. Only we can change our lives. We are responsible for our actions. Thank you so much for recognizing that sometimes, for the best changes, our action is to simply allow God to make the changes He wants to make in our lives as we cannot do so without His divine help. God's blessings my sometimes sassy friend. What a wonderful life we can have when we recognize we don't have to go it alone.

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    1. Jim:
      So good to have you join the conversation today. And yes, faith is an integral part of change. I know in the area of forgiveness, there was a time I fell to my knees beside my bed and wept, saying out loud, "I can't" -- meaning, I couldn't forgive what someone had done to me. And God whispered, "I know. But I can." And with His help, I could learn to forgive.

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