Devotion: How To Change

There are times when you read a passage of scripture and think that you have the correct interpretation only to find that as you continue your study of God’s word, your initial interpretation was incorrect.  Each of us has had similar experiences, but understanding why this happens is the key to eliminating future occurrences.  Most of us have built our belief system on those so-called fundamental truths we learned when we first believed.  Be they right or be they wrong, those truths were the building blocks to our current belief system, whatever that system may be.  However, there are times when our spiritual foundation fails due to misinformation or misinterpretations and the integrity of our entire belief system is adversely affected.

Our ability to seek and find the truth is limited directly to our ability to think or reason, especially the ability to think outside of the walls of Churchianity, denominationalism, or traditionalism.  Controlled by contrary beliefs, misguided values, unethical practices, or overstated theologies, we hear certain things that trigger predictable responses that automatically closes our minds to new revelations because we see it as a threat to our very basic religious foundation.  Words can be manipulated to say many things, but there are times when our mind manipulates the things we hear or read to suit our belief system, like a self-preservation mechanism that only allows us to process information that does not threaten our core belief system.  Instead of seeking and accepting truth, we seek and accept things that fit into our perception of truth, thus making us easy prey for all the false teachings, doctrines, edicts, and theologies.  We accept them without question and recite things that make us sound intelligent to others, but we lack full revelation and the ability to fully understand them, much less, explain them when questioned (I Peter 3:15).

We are told of a time when man will no longer tolerate wholesome instruction but rather search for “a multitude of teachers who will tickle their ears” in order that they, man, may then satisfy his own lust.  We are told that man will turn his ears away from listening to the truth and instead listen to fables (II Timothy 4:3-4).  We are also told that in the later times, some will fall away from the faith, giving heed to the deceiving spirits and the teachings of demons (I Timothy 4:1).  But the question that we need to ask is how is this possible?  We are being destroyed because we have limited God and limited ourselves.  We have failed to follow the instructions that God has set forth for us in his word.  He has provided for us everything we need in order for us to fully know him (II Timothy 3:16-17) and to worship him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).  We have failed to open our minds to him, choosing to limit ourselves to that which we think sounds more like something that God would tell us.

But how do we change?  We pray that today’s inspirational message has given you a new perspective “on those things that need to change.”  We also pray that this message will bless you, inform you, and that you will be the better for having read it.  If blessed by this message please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW