Chosen Grace

So before I jump into this, let me say to all of my readers: Happy New Year!! God has allowed us to see 2018. Make it your most prosperous year! Alright, now that we’re done with that-let’s get into this blog post.

 

Now, when you saw the title of this blog post, many of you probably related it too the legendary Sam Cooke’s famous song, I Know A Change Is Gonna Come.

And, I used those famous lines as the title of this blog post for good reason.

You see, it’s the New Year and we all have some New Years resolution going on. Meaning that we all want to change.

Now, in a past blog post entitled: Change Me O God, I talked about how I was desiring change, and how I knew that God wanted me to change.

And I accepted His will for me. But let me tell you, change is so hard to achieve.

Me being the person I am, I like things to happen when I want them to happen. But, God’s timing is not our timing. His ways are not our ways.

I want to change now- but God is making me go through this thing slow.

And with me being hardheaded, it seems like I keep trying to change, but I just keep failing. I would worry constantly about why I wasn’t getting any better, or why I was not changing.

So, after going through this for a few weeks- God sent me this verse:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” –2 Corinthians 5:17

This verse touched me. Paul opened my eyes to something real here.

You see, when Christ died for us on Calvary, He did for all the sins we would ever do. He died so that we may have life with the Father. He died so that we could become new.

What Paul was saying was that when I got saved and I accepted Jesus as my savior- the old Malaysia was gone.

The old Malaysia was gone- the New Malaysia was here.

And the same goes for you who are reading this. The old is gone. Let the old go and become anew is Christ Jesus.

After reading that verse, I actually surrendered all the old stuff I used to do to God.

I let all things of the flesh go. I am now trying to live and love by God’s Spirit.

It’s hard though, because when you are genuinely trying to change, that’s when Satan tries his best to pop up and make things harder for you.

But, when that happens- I just remind myself what James had to say:

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” –James 1:2-4

Yep. There it is. I love the book of James. It’s raw and real and this verse proves that. You see, when you are trying to change and trying to live right for God- Satan can not stand that. He already hates a child of God, but when that child of God starts to become more like God- Satan is ready to destroy you. 

Yeah, I know it sucks. But instead of saying: why me?, Thank God for the test. Be joyful. Because in the end, you are going to be a victor- not a victim. God already see’s you and I as more than conquerors through Christ Jesus. You and I just have to see it as well.

I’ll say it again- be joyful when the trials of life come. When you are tempted to stop changing and go back- be joyful. When it seems like you are trying your hardest- be joyful.

I could go on and on about those verses in the book of James. But I want for you guys to understand that when changing, trials and hardship are common. But God wants us to be joyous in them. Remember: you are more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus. 

So, as I wrap this up- I say to all of my readers out there- let’s be joyous in our changing. Let’s do God right this new year.

As for me, I’m gonna enjoy the changes God is putting me through- whether it comes easy or if comes hard.

For like the legendary Sam Cook sang: and I know, a change gone come, oh yes it will. 

Yes, a change is gonna come. 

With Love,

Malaysia