The other day I heard some one say (about someone else's character) What's in the past, is in the past. It's a familiar saying, one which most of us like to believe is true...but the more life experience I gain, the more I realize that most of the time, what's in the past is most definitely not actually in the past, but very much in the present.
I've often heard Dr. Phil say something to the effect that the best indicator of future behavior is past behavior. I think he's right. Time alone does not fix our personality/character flaws. Time alone does not change us. Without genuine repentance and effort to be different, we are exactly who we were in the past. I don't think we do ourselves or anyone else any favors by leading them to believe otherwise.
I've often felt that changing myself was impossible. I've even more often thought that other people changing is impossible. And in ministry, you soon realize that many who say they've changed, have in fact not. And those who say they want to change are often telling the truth...however the hidden truth is that they don't want to do the work needed to change. Sounds depressing, no? Sometimes...it is. But there are those, those people who you see the change. They don't have to convince me, or anyone else because it radiates from them. It's visible. It's undeniable. They can say, I once was this and now I'm this. And no one disputes it.
That's when the past is truly in the past.
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Sarah, you are definitely on to something with this....
ReplyDeletegood stuff.
So true. =) We've encountered this several times in our marriage with different people...you are absolutely correct. If, by God's grace, a person is able to change, wonderful. But if the person does not accept God's help, true change cannot happen.
ReplyDeleteAmen, sister. I so enjoy your blog!
ReplyDeleteHow do you think so well when you're pregnant???
ReplyDeleteWonderful, truthful post!
Amen, Amen and AMEN!
ReplyDeleteThank you for writing this. Wonderful truth...too often I carry my past around with me...most of us do...and you are so right about the responsibility of change being up to the individual!~
ReplyDeleteSo true!
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting this friend!
ReplyDeleteAMEN!
I so needed this today.
it's so hard to look into other's lives and say.. yep.. they have carried that with them and it prevents them from walking in freedom & yet so often i dont realize that i haven't changed in many ways and my same hurts and insecurites continue to crimple me.. sometimes i want someone i love & trust to just beat me :)
ReplyDeletegood stuff Sarah.
Good stuff! I've gotten so frustrated at my own self and my lack of ability to change...but you're right. It's actually my lack of desire to do the necessary work (a.k.a. dying to the flesh) that change requires...
ReplyDeletepreach it sister!!
Good Stuff!!
ReplyDeleteI struggle with this alot, both with myself and from my vantage point in ministry.
And isn't it a miracle than we CAN be changed (seeing how inept and incapable we ourselves are)? Only a Living God can change dead folk into living ones and ugly folk into new creatures.
ReplyDeleteAnd then, He just keeps on working--one bit of fruit (of the Spirit) at a time--until one day, we end up looking just like Jesus. That's His promise; "...being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on until the day of Christ Jesus." Ahhhh...the Grace of being found in Him on that Day!
To Him, who is The Life! :-)
-J
I've been wondering this lately myself! You hit it right on!
ReplyDeleteGreat thoughts. It is easier to see that stuff in someone else, whether positive change or the lack thereof. I wish we had a nice big God mirror to easily identify those things we need to change within ourselves.
ReplyDeletePretty dang profound. And true.
ReplyDelete