Change

1. Lately several people have asked me "How do I join God in changing me?"
2. I stumbled across a study of a word meaning "humble minded".
3. I have been trying to discern how to move forward, from my inner being.

"...tapeinofrosu/nh (Strong's Concordance word #5012), a word that represents a humble frame of mind or attitude, which has been matured through the humbling process of life's experiences. It expresses the attitude of mind that is the end result, the goal, of the maturation process.

Last week, we (www.studylight.org) studied this same word as part of the vocabulary Paul used to describe the maturity of mind required of believers before their existing spiritual unity in Christ can be manifested on earth and experienced among the brethren. Paul encourages believers to walk worthily of the calling of which they are called (Ephesians 4:1-3). He says that a believer's walk is to be accompanied by a humble frame of mind, which has been developed through submission to God's humbling process. Paul lists the condition of humble mindedness as necessary to balance out or equal the calling of which believers are called.

In these Philippian verses, as well as in those from Ephesians, Paul presents that the successful functioning of the Body of Christ requires that every believer have a humble frame of mind (or mindset). We have seen, through our study of the words related to humbleness, that a process is involved in bringing each of us to the end state of humbleness, Christian maturity. This humbling process requires time, because the resulting maturity is formed only through much experience. This process and its end result is not something we can force or produce; it can only be the result of God's transforming work being done in us." ~www.studylight.org

I maintain that CHANGE = effort + time. If our effort will not produce the change, what then is our part ? How do we participate in the process ? Prayer suggests that God wishes to engage humans in relationship & transformation. How do we remain engaged ? Shall we come to an absolute standstill re: a particular issue, such as humble mindedness? I think not.

What then shall we do ?

Acknowledge Christ's work and your new awareness with your mouth at every appropriate opportunity. "Positive reinforcement" is a secular term that closely mirrors this principle. If you have some clarity about what God is doing in your midst, make a decision about how you want to respond. Every effort begins with a decision. Once you've committed to responding, voice that awareness. Start there.