This seems like a simple question, but for me, it wasn’t until the last ten years of my life that I can honestly say I experienced divine change. And for many Christians that I’ve met, this experience has never happened.
I experienced divine change when I started studying Scripture. Had I not dedicated time each day to God’s Word, I would have missed the experience of repentance that led to divine change.
When I began studying the Bible, that’s when God pointed out all of the areas of my life that were not in line with His Word and needed divine change. For example, He showed me how my complacency was a sin because when things were going well, I began moving further away from God. It’s not that I felt I didn’t need Him. I just thought I needed Him less. The Lord also showed me the difference between worldly knowledge and Godly wisdom. Now I can see all of the money I wasted on “self-help” books when all we need is the Bible. The Bible teaches us everything we need to know, including how to manage our finances, lose weight and live life abundantly. Most importantly it teaches us how to live righteously before God. So how does one know when one experiences divine change? In answering this question, I can only share what happened to me.
Divine change occurs when our sole purpose becomes pleasing God over pleasing the world. We can’t wait to serve the poor, the needy and the sick because we want to be all that Christ is for us.
Divine change occurs when we can’t get our fill of the Bible. Studying God’s Word becomes more pleasing than any time spent in front of the TV or computer.
Divine change occurs when taking a Bible study becomes the number one priority on our list of things to do.
Divine change occurs when you love God and I mean you REALLY LOVE GOD more than anything else, including your children.
These are just a few examples of what divine change felt like to me but to others, it may be different. However, it would never have happened had I not started taking a Bible Study and truly dedicating time to developing a relationship with the Lord.
What benefits has divine change brought to my life? I can sum it up in one word: Peace. My fears rest with the Lord. No matter what’s happening around me, I know God is with me. So what then is there to fear? The world says we should fear disease, the economy, natural disasters and death. However, when we experience divine change, we see things through God’s eyes, reminding us of His sovereignty over our lives. The challenge is to prevent our hearts from turning back to our old ways. That's why it's important to be in a Bible study so that we are continuously reading God's Word.
“Changing Hearts Changing Lives” is a Bible study that addresses those areas of our life that need divine change. It doesn’t happen overnight and the process can be painful. But if our hearts are willing to accept those areas in our lives that need divine change, the blessings that come from it are too numerous to count. Information about this study can be found at www.cumcsl.org . All proceeds go to the church to encourage members to read and study God’s Word. If you don’t participate in my study, please take a Bible Study this year. The Lord doesn’t ask us to be a light and salt in the world, He expects it of us. And God is the only One who can divinely change us.
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good,pleasing and perfect will."
Romans 12:2
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This is so relevant. Fear this, fear that, plan for this contingency, avoid that one. To follow the Lord is to be under a different Kingdom rule and that is why we can do what seems impossible to the world. Jesus enables us to! We are strangers sojourning through this world with treasures for the next.
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