How much faith do you want to have this year?
In God?
In your family?
In yourself?
How about in what you think is true, your understanding of how stuff works?
This year, I want you all to do something crazy. And I mean mind-blowingly crazy.
Change your mind.
That’s right. Maybe – just maybe – you could be wrong about something.
Give up certainty. Cling to humility. Learn something. Open your eyes to understand.
Start with a “What if…?”
Fill in the blank with what you KNOW you are right about.
Finish with a “Then what?”
If you know Jesus Christ, I want you to pray first.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
Then walk in faith that God will guide you to the Truth as you choose to search for it.
Isaiah 30:21
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
Now, I’m going to give you some painful examples.
Read ALL of them.
What if my sarcasm and negativity are hurting me and the people who hear me?
Then how do I control my tongue?
What if I could be in the best shape of my life in 3 months?
Then where do I begin?
What if my spouse is the one who needs love (attention, affection, gifts, time, compliments)?
Then why am I holding it back?
What if I’m letting fear control me?
Then what am I really afraid of, and is it worth fearing?
What if my job is taking me away from my kids?
Then how can I support our family?
What if I’m the reason my house is a mess?
Then how can I keep it clean?
What if I’m the one who’s supposed to step out in faith and help_____?
Then why am I wishing someone else would?
What if my kid isn’t ADHD, OCD, ODD (or whatever label they’ve received)?
Then what…do they really need?
What if I let myself get discouraged, distracted, or off-track because of others?
Then how can I be responsible for my own actions?
What if my food and drink choices are why I’m unhappy or sick?
Then what changes do I have to make?
What if my dating choices will lead me to a painful life?
Then where do I find love?
What if the answer really is hard work, a good attitude, and planning ahead?
Then how do I start?
What if God really did come as the man Jesus to die in my place?
Then why am I resisting that kind of love?
What if I’m the reason I’m not successful at work?
Then what do I need to do better?
What if I’m refusing to change?
Then what am I afraid of, and is it a valid reason?
What if I’m the reason my family snaps at each other?
Then how can I calm things down?
What if that handful of candy/chips/etc. is what’s making me sick, overweight, and tired?
Then why don’t I quit?
What if I’m the one to blame?
Then why am I blaming others?
What if I’m wrong to hang out with this friend?
Then who should I hang out with?
What if I’m the one who can make my marriage awesome?
Then what first steps do I need to be willing to take?
What if I’m wrong about…politics, government, the environment, healthcare, police, racism, gambling, political correctness?
How can I find the best information?
What if I really can do more with my life?
Then what’s the first little step in the better direction?
What if angry arguing is not the best way to solve problems?
Then how can I resolve them peacefully or refuse to start one?
If you’re angry now, ask WHY?
Maybe – just maybe – deep inside you already know you are wrong.
Maybe it’s time to be honest with yourself.
Start questioning.
It’s okay. Changing your mind isn’t easy.
But the rewards are life-giving.
Romans 6:22
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.Galatians 6:8
Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.
Stubbornly believing you are right prevents you from knowing the Truth.
James and Cindi Runyon 