DEVO TIONAL Lord, Change Me


Encouragement for the New Year! by PASTOR HAYDEN NORRIS


I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose (Galatians 2:21).


Happy New Year, now it’s time to change! We all feel this way and we know its coming. So, we sign up for the gym and fall headlong into an intense workout program to shed those extra pounds gained over the holidays. Or we develop a budget so that we can save some extra money to go on that vacation of a lifetime this year, the one that we have always dreamed about. Or we commit ourselves to just do better, and live bet- ter so that our family would be blessed. And too often within a week we are back to our old ways.


Why? It’s because we are looking to the wrong


source for the power to change. We are looking within and not without. We look outward to be saved (to Jesus) but then we look inward for change (just try harder). God saved me, now I have to “fix” myself up for Him. That isn’t how it works because when we do this we make Jesus the mascot of our faith and not the master of our faith. He does not just sit on the side- lines and watch us flail about!


So how can we change biblically in 2022? Paul has some things to say about this in Philippians 3.


1. Fight the drift away from Christ (Philippians 3:12). Paul reminds us that we must not just “let go and let


perfect Savior. Do not let past failures and mistakes hold you back from future progress.


3. Look to the future (3:14). Heaven is your home. God isn’t finished with you until he calls you home. No matter


A4. Allow God to expose what needs to change (3:15).


what stage of life you might be in, press on. Whether you are young in years or old in years, spend yourself for Christ. You will not waste your life if you do.


sk the Lord, “God, what needs to change in my life?” Ask a close friend, a spouse, or a church member what they think needs to change in you, and allow them to speak freely. Too often we pick the wrong things to focus on. Let God sharpen your focus on what needs to change.


I5. Cling to Christ (3:16). We start and end with Christ.


magine that. He who called you, will change you and keep you. Cling to the founder and perfecter of your faith (Hebrews 12:2). Change is hard to do, but remember that, as a


God.” We need to work and depend upon Jesus to do the work in our life. Draw close to Jesus and he will change you and give you the power to change. It is so easy to “fall into sin” because sin is a pit and righteousness is a mountain that we must climb with Christ’s power. Stay close to Jesus.


2. Forget the past (3:13). The past is in the past, that’s why it's called the past. You have been forgiven. You are


being forgiven. No one is perfect which is why we need a


child of God, you are not doing it alone in your own strength. You are not called to “fix up the house” with- out the Master Builder’s help. God doesn’t say, “I saved you — now it's your turn to pull your weight around here!” If you really want to change in 2022, pray, “Lord, change me.” Depend on Him to do the work. He will not disappoint.


Pastor Hayden Norris is lead pastor at Crosspoint


Bible Church in Omaha, Nebraska. He accepted Christ during his time of service in the United States Navy, and subsequently went on to choose a life of ministry. Pastor Hayden Norris became involved in church planting and served as youth pastor, associate pastor and head pastor before coming to Nebraska. He and his wife, Heather, have three children, Ben, Susanna and Adrian.


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