daily devotional

Who needs a change in their life? I’m not talking a little change, I’m talking a big radical change. You’re seeking a complete turn around. You need a new beginning, either for you or a loved one, because the way things are going, you know where it’s heading, and it isn’t good. Awesome … you’re seeking the right God and listening to the right devotional today!

Philippians 4:19 – And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. (NLT)

This scripture comes from a letter which Paul wrote to the Philippians. Paul was an interesting character. A crusader for Christ, bold and relentless in fulfilling his purpose. But remember this, Paul wasn’t always Paul. Before becoming a crusader for Christ, he was Saul, a brutal persecutor of all Christians. He was wrong and he did wrong. He looked to cut off the head of anyone who believed in Jesus.

Now stop for a minute and think about that. This is the man who’s words we read today? This is the man entrusted to write much of the New Testament. This is the man God says he has chosen as his instrument? What?

Oh you bet and it was all by great design. Here’s why I believe God chose Paul and told us all about his history … because our God wants to show you and I even today that he is in the business of changing lives. The perfect example is right here for us. When God got ahold of Saul, nothing in his past could keep him from becoming the man God created him to be.

Isn’t that amazing. God still loved him and still saw potential in Saul and said “boy, I’m going to give you a new beginning. You’re going to get a do-over. Your name is no longer Saul, you are now Paul and you’re working for me.” And from that moment on, everything changed.

Oh there’s so much we can learn from this. Someone can be radically wrong. They can royally mess up and be on the wrong side, BUT GOD CAN CHANGE IT ALL. God hasn’t given up hope on his children who are on the wrong path. No one is beyond his life changing power.

A do-over is available. Who needs one?

Paul says, “and this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs.” Yes, the same God who came in and stopped a brutal killer in his tracks and turned him into a crusader for Christ, he can do the same for you. I’m pretty sure I’m not talking to any brutal killers today, but maybe I’m speaking to someone with a bad habit. A habit that you know is wrong. A habit of worrying. A habit of drinking. A habit of binge eating. A habit of gossip. A habit of cursing. A habit of nagging. A habit of procrastination. Have I hit yours yet?

Let me keep going. A habit of negativity. A habit of laziness. A habit of distraction. A habit of complacency. A habit of complaining. A habit of giving up.

Oh, I know one of these spoke to you.

God can help you change. God can help your husband change. He can help your child change. Nothing is too big for him. Nothing is impossible for him. The same God who changed the killer Saul into the Apostle Paul, wants to help you change. He wants to help your family change. It’s the same God with the same power. Remember our scripture today: Philippians 4:19 – “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”

The same God who radically changed this man’s life can change your life too. The same God who didn’t give up on Paul when he was wrong, hasn’t given up on you while you’ve been wrong either. The same God who was seeking him with a good plan for his future, is seeking you with a good plan for your future. And your change can happen in an instant just like Paul’s did. But there’s a little kicker in the story you should know about …

Let’s read it together in Acts 9 1-9:

“Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.”

YOUR CHANGE CAN HAPPEN IN AN INSTANT, BUT DON’T BE SURPRISED WHEN YOU FEEL WORSE FOR A FEW DAYS.

Paul was blind for his first 3 days after his encounter with Jesus. You know what that means … it means things got DARK for Paul. Literally, dark. He couldn’t see light anywhere. Just because things seem dark right now doesn’t mean God isn’t working in your life. In fact, the darkness may be a RESULT of him working.

Trust Him. You want change? You want to exchange your laziness, your negativity, your complacency or your distraction for the full, BIG, beautiful life God has available to you? Today can be your day.

What do you need to do?

Surrender to him. Trust him even in the dark times … especially in the dark times … that’s often where God does his greatest work. No change is too big or too hard for God. Not in your life or in your loved one’s life.