Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (NIV)

A friend of mine shared the following with me, and it really resonated with me.

When I got home from Europe, I noticed that the barn swallows had built a nest. The fledglings were gone, but they left such a mess. So, when they started to come back, I removed the nest, and then the fight began. When they began to rebuild, I cleaned out their mud and tried everything to dissuade them. Nothing worked, so I decided to let them build. But I worked out an arrangement. A pail for their mess hangs just below their nest. Lesson learned: sometimes you need to re-think your tactics.

Paul gives us an insight into how this is to work in our lives:

Ephesians 4:22-24 – You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (NIV)

How often we stick to our own way and avoid changing our route and plan or side-step God's will for our life! We think that we know the easy way or the fastest way, and we stick to our plan, regardless of what others may say or whether we are certain that we know the right way. We even refuse to seek the will of God even though in our heart we know that's what we must do.

Before I was saved, I certainly thought that I had all the answers and knew how life worked. It wasn't until I was saved in my 30s that I realized that I needed to re-think my tactics that were not working. I had to come to the end of self in order to allow God to continue to do a good work in my life. I must admit that I can still be stubborn and fail to turn my ways over to Him.

The changed life stems from the transformation that God works in us through the gospel as we put off the old life, are renewed in our minds, and put on the new life in Christ. We need to live in that transformation consistently so that others clearly see an example of what God can do for them.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, help us to continue to walk in the lessons that You have given to us in Your Word. We want Your changes in our lives to be an example to others, and this begins with our thinking. Help us in this so that we may become more like You every day. In Your name, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Julie Bowles <julieanni@rogers.com>
Barrie, Ontario, Canada
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