November 22nd, 2020

DAY 17 - THE GIFT OF CHANGE

What is speaking most to my heart about thankfulness this week? The gift of change. Apart from our recent election, with the possible change that might bring, the biggest news in my life has been a MOVE from Camp Hill to Harrisburg. Anyone who moves knows that it involves shifting...and an opportunity for change. New experiences, new people to relate to, and on a personal level for me now, sharing a home.  This means greater levels of communication and building friendship, as well as learning and growing in ways that are foreign and new to me as I trade tree-lined drives for a walk through the city streets.  

How does that tie into gratitude? Change and stretching are needed in my life, for I'm prone to comfort. Can anyone relate? So as God extends to me the invitation, "let Me expand your capacity to see differently," I'm GRATEFUL.  

"Let Me give you opportunities to love people who are different than you!" GRATEFUL. 
"Let Me change your narrow way of thinking." GRATEFUL.

Oh, I'm aware that these invitations also come with challenges. Yet I'm also aware that when you ask God to expand your heart, His answer to that prayer involves an invitation to change. Necessary change! 

"Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed, CHANGED, by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."  Romans 12:2 

It's all part of that strength-to-strength, glory-to-glory road that we're on. We are not who we were - and we are not who we will become - but through the gift of change, praise Jesus, something different happens in our lives that didn't happen yesterday!!  As followers of Christ, transformation is a cultural equation process for us. We move from old to new as we learn our kingdom reality. For me right now, that means "blooming where I'm planted."  
I'm aware that some changes are not the ones that God's designed. But even in those - and we've been experiencing many of those as of late - His heart will always be to draw us closer. And every day that we can love Jesus more than we did the day before is a change worth fighting for. 
So what change is happening in your life, that might be challenging for you?  What beautiful shape is forming in your heart because of it, that wasn't there before?  And what are you the most grateful for today that was the result of a recent change?
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- Susie Chesson