Yes, You Really Can Change: Is A Changed Life Possible For Everyone

Here is the devotional:

At the end of first three chapters of Ephesians, Paul prays a profound prayer. Everyone who has been united with Christ is grounded in His love (Ephesians 3:16-19)—the foundational essence of life and the basis for the change that will come.

Then Paul praises the God who is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine. Here is the key to our entire transformation as new creations: “according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20).

What does this imply?

The change you long for is not a burden you must bear alone.
You may feel trapped in sin, guilt, and shame, but you aren’t!
God provides the power for change.
God is at work in you!
You were created in the image of God. Called into a relationship with Him, you are being restored into the character and nature of Jesus, the perfect image of God. Every believer is given this calling. Every believer has as a resource God’s supernatural power to live out this rebirth as a new creation.

Then, in Ephesians 4:1, Paul says we are “to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” In light of everything that God has done, His immeasurable love, and the new identity you now have in Him, Paul turns to what we are to do next: live a life that matches who we truly are in Christ.

Reflection:

Think about “how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ” (Ephesians 3:18). Do you believe this describes His love for you?
Do you believe God is at work in you right now?
Prayer: Lord, thanks for loving me with a “love that surpasses knowledge.” Help me see how You are at work in me right now.

Here are the scriptures referenced:

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Ephesians 3:16‭-‬20 KJV

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Ephesians 4:1‭-‬2 KJV

Here are Stu’s thoughts:

The author is so correct with his statement of…

Here is the key to our entire transformation as new creations: “according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20).

Yes, you may feel weighed down by guilt and shame surrounding a habitual sin or a lot of them.

And sadly you may also feel like there is no way for you stop. Like in the movie Home Run, which should be a required watch by the way, where after accepting Christ he continues his drinking to the point where he calls a pastor to meet him. The pastor shows up only to find him on the ground in tears and all he says to the pastor is this…I can’t stop!

This clip I’m about to share from the movie is not the one I mentioned above. It is a different clip where he admits he is powerless to change without God!