Are You Ready for Change?

Recently I spoke a word about change. The New Year has come and gone, and with that came the barrage of challenges we didn’t quite meet last year, but definitely hope to rise above now. Yet, just like last year, we fear that change may never come.

Did you know that people by nature are afraid of change? Even when the transformation may be for our best interest, we often fear that transition period between old and new. All of us struggle with change in one way or another.

We, as Believers, are called to live victoriously—called to walk in dominion! But how is that possible when so many of us feel that we can never seem to master even the smallest hurdles?

Timothy, Paul’s faithful younger companion and friend, struggled with these very issues. He was afraid that he would not live up to the call that God had placed on his life. Listen here to the exhortations of Paul on these matters…

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

—2 Timothy 1:7

“Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”

—2 Timothy 1:6

We must constantly seek the Holy Spirit through the washing of the Word of God for affirmation, understanding that He alone is the author and finisher of our destinies. We must partner with Him if we wish to succeed.

In every battle, the first key to moving forward is to identify the open door (or source of the enemy’s entrance). We cannot make forward progress unless we deal with the offenses in our lives. Although they may have been extremely painful, we will never walk in freedom if we do not invite the Holy Spirit to help us forgive and heal.

“…making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

—Mark 7:13

While many use this scripture out of context as a means to remove the significance of celebrating the Feasts of the Lord, the actual meaning is much different. Jesus was addressing the Pharisees regarding the man-made laws and traditions they had created, which gave them the right to abstain from taking care of their ailing parents.

As we know, God expects us to honor our parents, and this does include looking after them in their old age. However, Jesus took the lesson one step further. He explained that although what our forefathers may have taught us about God was well meaning, it may not be aligned with the truth from the Word of God. We must be committed to seek the Word of God, defining our lives by what He says and not by the traditions passed on to us by our earthy parents or leadership… all the while still honoring them in the role God has placed them in our lives.

If we want to mature this year we must understand that thoughts become habits… which turn into patterns… which determine choices… which will eventually bring either good or bad results.

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. ‘Eat and drink!’ he says to you, but his heart is not with you.”

—Proverbs 23:7

Our thoughts have so much power. Breaking unhealthy soul ties with family habits and patterns is a powerful way to see change begin to happen within our families.

Are you nodding along with me, but still struggling with the idea of truly making a change? We know it needs to be done, but here we are…

Click here to get your copy of "7 Steps to Emotional Healing."

I want you to know there is still hope!

I want to stop right here and say that change is possible. It is my passion to see the Body of Christ walking jubilantly in the individual calls that they have been given.

Throughout my time as a pastor, I have seen many in my congregation mature and grow in ways they never dreamed possible. Let me share with you, just as I have with them, the steps we each can take to make our goals become our testimonies.

You ask… “Where do I start? I want to change. I want 2017 to be my best year yet. I have a call on my life and want to answer that call; I know I need to trust God and change accordingly to be successful at accomplishing my goal.”

Here is my answer… “It all starts with a plan!”

I recommend that you take an hour of your life and just sit alone with God. Don’t speak. Don’t praise. Don’t pray. Just sit…

As you start this process ask the Lord to meet you there. Invite Him to describe your call in just one word.

I saw you raise your eyebrow just then…

Yes, one word.

Here’s the reason why. One word is definable. You may serve multiple roles in your life like me. For example: I’m a husband, a father, a grandfather, a pastor, a CEO, an apostle, an evangelist, the list goes on and on. But inevitably when I’m sitting at an airport talking to a stranger, they’ll ask me what I do. I’m not going to list all of those roles. No… at the end of the day the call on my life is preacher—all of those other roles are not obsolete, they allow me to fulfill my role as a preacher of the Gospel, which brings great joy to my life!

So, ask the Lord to define your role in one word

It may take all of that one hour to hear from Him, but in that time train your soul to sit and wait patiently for Him. Don’t go into this with preconceived notions about what He will say, just ask and allow His image of who He designed you to be, to replace the images that are man contrived.

Once you’ve spent time with the Lord, begin to evaluate these three areas in your life: Health, Lifestyle, and Career. Where do you wish to be this time next year?

Next, make a list of your personal goals for the future. Remember to ask the Lord as you’re writing how these goals tie in with your one-word call. Invite Him to partner with you in taking the next step of writing down goals for this coming year that will get you closer to living these dreams. These must be manageable steps… steps that may challenge you, but are not impossible to achieve.

Then ask a trusted family member or friend to be your accountability partner. You can share with them about your goals, or even type up the steps you wish to achieve and give them a copy. I recommend picking someone you know who will pray with you, and who you aren’t afraid to share with about your areas of struggle.

Once you’ve gone through those steps, and that may take you a couple of days to solidify, begin to ask the Lord where the familiar spirits are that have held you or your family back in the past. Identify specifically if a poverty or orphan spirit is at work in your life.

Here are a few ways these spirits work…

Orphan Spirit:

  • Needs to compete and stand out
  • Or turns inward and chooses to isolate and remain completely independent
  • Fear, insecurity and constant need of reassurance from leadership
  • Performance oriented
  • Always judging others weaknesses

Poverty Spirit:

  • Chronic long-term lack—no matter how much money they make, the cycle wont break
  • Thinks they have to give all of their work away
  • Complains about paying others for their due labor
  • You think you win when you get something for free
  • Does not tithe or bring offerings to the Lord
  • Resents wealthy people
  • Has a habit of making poor financial choices
  • Criticizes someone for spending money that they have

Repent for partnering with those spirits, and ask the Lord to sever those soul ties from you and past generations, all the way back to Adam. Guard your thought patterns and begin to monitor them when mocking spirits come and try to torment you with those old mindsets, or if they begin to speak defeating thoughts that leave you feeling discouraged.

Remember, you are a child of a King who owns the universe! He saw you as so valuable that He exchanged His most precious possession to secure your future. Run to the Word of God and speak the truth of who God says you are, instead of partnering with generational mindsets from the past.

Prayers and Decrees

Positive Prayers, Proclamations and Decrees:

  • Decree Your Faith in God

“So Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Have faith in God.”

—Mark 11:22
  • Pray and Proclaim What You Need Boldly in the Courts of Heaven!

“For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.”

—Mark 11:23
  • Stand by Faith Believing with Daily Application as a New Lifestyle

“Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”

—Mark 11:24
  • Receive the Father’s Love

Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”

—1 John 4:17-18
  • Come into Agreement with Your New Identity as a Son or Daughter of the King and Receive Your Inheritance as a Born-Again Child of God!

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

—2 Corinthians 5:17

We hope this post has gotten you excited for the new work that Christ is doing in and through each of us this year! You are such a valuable asset to the Kingdom of God. Yes, YOU! We believe God for incredible things in your future. May He richly bless you with abundant joy and hope in this new season.