Motivational speaker Tony Robbins once said, “Change happens when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change.”

The quote at its heart states that the primary reason we change is because of pain. Therefore, when things hurt us or are finally painful enough, we will be motivated to do something different.

I know this to be true from observation and experience. Numerous times I have watched other people suffer because of their own foolishness until they acted differently. Unfortunately, I also had to feel the hurt of my choices too many times before I adjusted my behavior. 

The question I must ask is, “Why not change when we have the chance, instead of waiting till it hurts?”

Perhaps it is human nature to wait, or quite possibly it is our stupidity, but the truth is elemental. You do not have to wait until it hurts before you make positive changes in your life. You can start down a new path with a decision at any point on your journey.

Change can happen at any moment we want – it could even happen today.    

You will never be good enough to get it right all the time. You will never be strong enough to conquer the enemy. You do not have the power to make wrong things right.

Scripture never encourages us to believe in ourselves.

The words of the Bible point us toward faith in God. Trust in him and his power alone. Our victories only come through God’s Spirit at work in us. His strength is what accomplishes the good things in our lives. It is only through him that we will conquer evil.

I believe in God, and I don’t believe in you.

I also hope you do not believe in me as your pastor.

Place your faith in God alone, and that way, you will never be let down.

Did you have a negative encounter with that person, or did someone you know tell you about an unpleasant interaction, and then you adopted their mentality?

This is a vital question when dealing with difficult people. Did you have an experience with someone you considered negative or did another person have one, and you took on their attitude as your own?

Whenever we walk around spewing our negative stories about others, it helps us feel justified or avenged. But it does damage that we cannot see. Suddenly, we shift the mood of every person toward this individual. Other people will quickly accept your opinions as authoritative, even if you were just trying to vent your anger. 

Some people hate me, who have never had a bad interaction with me. Some have never talked to me or at least not spoken about the issue they claim justifies their anger. Instead, they have been told about how I behaved in a situation and accepted it without asking questions. 

The Bible writers frequently mention removing gossip, slander, anger, malice, arrogance, and discord along with idolatry and sexual immorality. A believer must understand that their words can be as deadly as their actions. With a word, each of us can destroy lives, ruin friendships and tear down other people. Spewing negative stories may make you feel good for a few minutes, but the damage done will hurt others for a lifetime.     

Most of us believe that the people around us are well-adjusted, calm, and secure in themselves. They act confident and tackle issues without fear of failure or embarrassment. Everyone we know appears so focused and firm in their hopes, goals, and dreams. 

Honestly, I bet if you took the time to get to know these people. Most likely, we would find out that they don’t have it altogether. They are scared, insecure, and unsure of themselves. They paint on a mask, only hoping that others will not see the fear in their eyes.

People are the same. We all are trying to do our best in whatever capacity we find ourselves. We strive to be the best child, spouse, parent, worker, friend, Christian, and person we can be while being unsure if we are doing it correctly. 

I think this truth should allow you to do two things. First, I hope it makes you compassionate toward the people you encounter. They are trying their best. Second, I also hope you will go easy on yourself. No one is putting more pressure on you than yourself. Relax and don’t compare your internal issues with the way another person appears to be living. 

An older pastor told me that the key to surviving in ministry is “adapt or die.”  That statement was made to me over twenty years ago.   If it was true then, it has never been more true than going into 2022. Covid issues, technological advances, podcasting, social media, infrequent attendance, and a host of problems have impacted how the community of believers does Church.  

Don’t mishear me. The core of our faith never changes. Believers stand firm on the unchanging witness of the scriptures. However, once we stand on the Bible, everything else is subject to change to meet the needs of the people during the age in which they live. 

That means the future of the Church will look different than the past.

This transformation is not because the old ways were evil. The world is changing, and we need to use every available tool to reach people today. Just like the culture around us is different than it was twenty years ago, the Church must be ever-changing. 

Not all new approaches will be welcomed. Some transitions will not be smooth. But all adjustments are necessary. The old pastor was correct; the Church must continue to adapt or die in every generation.   

Each one of us just gained another year of knowledge. 

Hopefully, you learned some new information through books, sermons, podcasts, lectures, blogs, TED talks, classes, and lectures. 

There is also the experiential knowledge you obtained.  The lessons came from success and doing things the right way.  Also, there is the hard-earned education that you received from your missteps and failures. 

As you go into the new year, you can use the lessons from the past year in ways that will make this year better and more fruitful.  Last year can be the stepping stone to improving this year. 

Reflect, learn, apply, and then do better – one year at a time. 

I pray you all have a happy and blessed new year. Thanks for reading my stuff.

Here is part of one of my favorite passages from the Bible – Number 6:22-26.

It is truly my prayer for you in the coming year.

A friend of mine taught me that the human mind likes new beginnings. So we love Monday as a chance to start over. Likewise, new months and seasons are opportunities to mark the end of one adventure and start the next. The same is true for a new year. 

In one way, nothing changed, but in another way, this is the perfect opportunity to put the past behind us and start fresh. 

On Saturday, I will throw out last year’s calendar, put away paperwork, and write an annual report of events. Simultaneously, I will get out a blank new calendar, start new empty files, and develop a to-do list. 

The new year is here, even if it technically doesn’t change anything. I hope you will allow it to be the open door for change and transformation in your life. I don’t know what God is placing on your heart to improve and become more like him. But now is a great time to start.   

I said it a thousand times to my children. Someone did something nice for them, and then I would look at them and say, “What do you say?”

They knew the answer was always two simple words, “Thank you.” 

Whenever we receive a blessing, our response to the people who gave it should be gratitude. 

So before we start making plans for the new year and write down all of our hopes and dreams, be sure to stop and be thankful for the past year. Be grateful to the people who have blessed you. Also, be sure to thank God who gave you another year. We are guaranteed nothing in this life, and each day, along with each year, should be received as a gift. It is well worth your time to spend a few minutes thanking God for this past year and all the blessings that came with it.

We expect our children to show good manners whenever someone does something nice for them. Should we not set the example as adults?

I want to offer a quick review of this past year before moving on to the next.

I know some of you are long-time readers and others are new, but I wanted to make sure you had all read some of my most popular blog posts.

Most popular posts written in 2021

5. [TIE] It’s A Wonderful Life Moments

Christian Swagger

4. Truly Attractional Ministry

3. Three Pairs of Shoes

2. Reliving Yesterday

1. Holding Up Moses’ Arms

Most popular posts read in 2021 (written any year)

5. Non-Verbal Communication at Church

4. What A Pastor Thinks About at the End of the Week

3. Marriage Analogy

2. What Could Happen on an Idle Tuesday?

1. Four Old Testament Foundations of Evangelism

Thanks for reading over the past year and I hope you will continue to do so in 2022