Have you ever known someone who asked for advice in tough times, but didn’t follow the advice, but kept doing everything the same?
Do you know someone who just surrounds themselves with people who tell them what they want to hear, rather than the truth?
Have you ever ignored advice and chosen to feel sorry for yourself instead?
Do you, or have you ever, told people what they want to hear, and not what you really think? Why?
When was the last time you experienced a moment of clarity, and decided to make some major changes?
Often times people get ‘stuck in a rut’ because they fear change. When change happens, it can mean a lot of things- failure, hurt, fun, disappointment, success, growth, etc. No matter what the outcome when things change, something very important happens, we learn something. If you live your life the same day in and day out you are living in fear or laziness. God has greater plans for us than where we are at right now. If you are avoiding change, or just too lazy to face it, you cannot grow in your walk with God, or others. Your friendships will even deteriorate as others mature.
Some things to ask yourself:
Do I have a routine that I never stray from?
Am I losing friends as I get older, and not gaining new ones?
Do the people I surround myself with tell me what I want to hear, or tell me when I am in the wrong?
Do I encourage others, or am I a drag?
What was the last thing I knew God wanted from me, and how long ago was that?
Am I obeying God’s commands (not just the well known 10, ALL of them)?
It is important for us to examine where we are at and where we are going.
James 1:22-25
¶ Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
If you are calling yourself a Christian, which means you follow Christ, but are not doing what the Bible says (or even reading it), you are insulting your creator, and need to make some changes. If you do not have a relationship with Christ, know that He desires to see His followers grow, and never leaves them to do it on their own. He fully equips those who ask with the tools necessary to grow, learn, change and succeed. If you are not growing, learning, changing or succeeding- find out where you should be, because it is NOT where you are at.