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Jan 22, 2023 06:00am

Sustainable Change

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As I ponder the new year, it seems the focus of my attention is on all the things I would like to be different from last year.

Of course, any time we want outcomes to be different, it requires a change of some kind.
If we want to lose weight, we have to change our eating habits and/or level of activity. To have more financial freedom, requires we change our spending habits or work habits. To have more time we must manage our time differently. For deeper relationships, we have to invest in them with more time, vulnerability, or purpose. I know this seems like basic logic, but most people do not like change. In fact, change often generates anxiety or frustration.

Let’s face it, change is hard. Most of the time, we would rather things stay consistent and comfortable.
When we are looking to make changes, often our motivation comes from a sense of obligation or guilt, neither of which are usually good motivation for long-term change. If we make change because we feel obligated, we will often lose interest because it isn’t something we truly desire. Eventually, we become bitter about the idea of continually doing what we don’t really want to do. Guilt is a terrible motivator because no matter what you do or how long you endure changes you don’t truly desire, it never seems to be enough to satisfy guilt.

So, when I’m thinking about changes I want to make in the coming year, what is good motivation and how can I sustain those changes that are properly motivated?

As you have probably already figured out, our desires are a big part of whether we are able to sustain the changes we make. In Scripture, the word desire is most often used to describe things we cling to or things we take pleasure in. Desire itself is not a bad thing, but because mankind tends to be self-centered and seek things to soothe us or bring immediate comfort, we are battling against a desire for things that are not good for us and don’t honor God. So, proper motivation boils down to having proper desires. While this is no small task, it’s important that we understand we are not left to battle our desires alone. Scripture teaches that when we put our faith in God, He gives us a “new heart” in which our desire and our sense of fulfillment is guided by God’s law and His Holy Spirit. Let me explain.

Most of the time when we decide we want something that requires change, it’s typically from a self-serving point of view and so we commit ourselves to sheer willpower to change behaviors and attitudes. The problem with this is that our desires are very vulnerable to fluctuations. If something gets too hard, or takes too long, or our emotions change, it’s likely that our desire changes with it. But when we commit ourselves to living by faith in God, our only priority is to love God wholly and love people as we love ourselves. Psalm 37:4-5 says, “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” When we seek Him, God rewards us with fulfillment, joy over the things that He also rejoices in because our desires are now aligned with His.

Trusting in Him also brings a sense of confidence because He is able to provide all we need, and He is always accessible when we need to lean on Him for strength.

Jeremiah 29:13 says it this way, “you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

If you are looking to attain personal growth in this new year, know that God is all about that too!
Two Scriptures that come to mind are I Peter 2:2 which says, “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,” and Matthew 5:6 which says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” As we engage with God’s Word and allow the Holy Spirit to teach us, we grow and thrive.

Whatever changes you want to make in the new year, your best bet for success is that your motivation be for God’s glory alone. This may mean changing your priority from yourself to Him, or it may mean changing your desires to something that aligns with obedience to God’s commands. Or maybe it means not trusting in yourself to accomplish these things but trusting God to guide your desires, to give you strength, or to help you with patience and endurance.

This doesn’t mean you won’t be fulfilled in your life: Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” When love and gratitude toward God are your motivation, His mercy, grace, strength and rewards for obedience will satisfy and sustain you as you seek to change.