Be Willing

We all want things to be different in many areas of our lives. We may want others to have a different attitude when they are dealing with difficult situations. We may want to our children or other people to act differently and listen more. We may want our boss to recognize our hard work and give us a promotion or just some token of appreciation. However, in order to make any kind of change in others we need to be willing to make a change first in ourselves.

We may need to examine our attitude and be willing to allow God to help us to focus on Him while we are dealing with difficult situations. We may need to allow God to help us be willing to listen more to our children and to others so we can be an example to them about how to listen and how to communicate. We may need to ask God to show us how to acknowledge people around us for the good things they do rather than focusing on getting acknowledged ourselves.
2 Timothy 2:10 “So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and ete
al glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen.”

The very thing we are seeking to be different in the lives of others may be the change we need to be willing to make in our own lives. God shows us things in others as a message for us to change. He wants us to see others as He sees them. If we see others as a burden to help or a challenge to relate to, we may need to examine our own lives before we see a change in them.

We must be willing to take on something we have never done before to see a change. We must be willing to stop doing things we have been doing for a long time. We must be willing to make a change in our lives. We can’t continue to do the same things and wait for God to change us or others. We must be willing to take the first step and find out what God wants us to do.

What are we willing to take on? What are we willing to do more of or learn? What habits are we willing to create to make the change God wants us to make? What part of our day are we willing to add something God wants us to add? When we go through this day, look for things God may be telling us through others we need to pray about adding to our lives.

What are we willing to stop doing? Are there things in our lives that are keeping us from doing what God wants because we are putting them first? Rather than going home at night and reading God’s word, are we going home and spending time playing games on the Internet? Rather than getting up early to spend some quiet time alone with God, are we sleeping in to get one more hour of rest? We need to look at our day and see what part needs to be eliminated where we aren’t focusing on God.

What are we willing to change? What things do we do need to change so we are doing them with a focus on God? Are we spending our money putting God first? Are we taking care of our bodies remembering how God wants us to? Are we using our words in a pleasing way to others rather than gossiping and putting others down? Are our thoughts all day long the thoughts God would want us to have? Is our facial expression one of happiness, conce
and gratitude rather than worry, distraction and sadness?

Before we can do God’s will and even know His will, we need to be willing. Our willingness begins with going to God and asking Him to give us a willing heart. We need to go to His word and spend time with Him. We need to be aware of the activities in our day where God is sending us a message to change, to add on or to stop. We must be willing to endure anything. We must remember our actions reflect God because we are committed to do His will and be an example to others for Him. Our willingness to make a change in our own lives can help others to change. Our willingness can help bring others to Christ.

Being willing and open for a different life, a life for God, is the step we need to keep in front of us all day long. God is showing us ways to make a difference all day long. We can choose to ignore those signs from God or we can be willing to do something about what He is revealing to us. Once we are really willing to be on target for God all day long, we will see the changes we have been looking for in our lives and we will see God make a difference in the lives of others through us.