We spend so much time looking for stuff to change our situations that we don’t realize the change needs to occur with self, first. You will not stop smoking, drinking, gambling, cheating, lying and etc. until you change you. The liquor store, drug dealer and casinos will still be there but if you change, you won’t go. The person in your inbox and text messages will still be there but if you change, you won’t respond. That same spot you’ve been standing in, it will be there but if you change, you’ll move. That same closed door, will be there but if you move … I hope you get my point. Beloved, you might not be able to change the traditional way your church has service but you can change where you worship. You might not like the way Kroger produce looks but you can change stores. You might be frustrated with getting promoted on your job but you can change that too. Yes, you can blame your weight gain on the fact your family eats bad but you can change what you eat. You can blame debt on the fact you don’t make a lot of money or you can change your spending habits. You know good and well, the doctor told you the blood pressure would become an issue, if you didn’t change. Your boss told you at your last review if you didn’t stop being late, you could lose your job. The mechanic told you to change the tires before you had the blow out. The beautician told you to change your hair before yours fell out.
What I am getting at is, change has to start with you. The bible says in James 4:17, “Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.” It will not matter if you have the best prayer life, your devotion runs deep and your pay your tithes faithfully because if you don’t do what you know is right, you sin against yourself. And yes, we know it isn’t right to spend our rent money at the casino but we do. We know this dude/chick isn’t right for us but for the sake of image, we hold on. We know Sis/Bro isn’t right for the leadership of the church but we put them there anyway because they pay the most tithes. We know the traditions isn’t scripture but we practice them. We know we shouldn’t go there but we do. Get this, it is your right but don’t blame God when you’re stuck. Don’t run from the church when you don’t get the answer you need through prayer. Don’t blame society when it isn’t playing fair. Don’t blame your past when it’s dead AND gone. The blame lies with you because you have the chance to change. You cannot change folk but you can surely change you. Change your thoughts, your actions, your words, your deeds, the places you hang out and even the people you hang out with IF what you have going now isn’t working, isn’t right or both.
Lakisha, the Author 