Thinking about my prayer for God to change me, I have been trying to pinpoint EXACTLY what I’m praying for Him to change.  Am I wanting Him to MAKE me over?  Change who I am?  Alter my attitudes? Remove those sins I just can’t seem to give up?

“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen and slow to anger, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.  Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.  Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.  Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.” James 2:19-24 N.I.V.

These verses in James remind me of a parable Jesus told as recorded in Luke 8:4-15.  To paraphrase; a farmer sows seed and the seed falls onto four types of soil.  The first was the soil on the path and birds quickly devoured or feet trampled it.  The second was rocky soil where it grew but quickly withered for lack of moisture.  The third was soil where thorns grew and when the seeds sprouted and grew they were overwhelmed by the thorns and weeds.  The fourth was good soil, ready to receive the seed, and a fine crop was reaped. 

When Jesus explained this parable He said the seed was God’s word.   The birds and tramping feet were Satan whisking the seed away before it is heard.  The rocky soil represents those who believe God’s Word yet don’t establish deep roots and during testing times they walk away.  The thorny soil is to show a picture of those who hear God’s. Word but the pressures and pleasures of life help them forget. Finally the good soil and crops mirrors those who hear and believe God’s Word and stays the course, bringing others to Jesus.

When I am praying “change me” this is what I mean.  At times we are every one of these soil types.  I want to be more like the good soil, less like the other three more often. Less me, more Him.

When I pray “God change me” I am praying for His strength through and in me to LIVE HIS WORD. I can’t look in God’s Word then turn away if I am SERIOUS about God changing me.  I have to be willing to stand the pressures of life and turn away from the pleasures that are sinful.  I have to HEAR and BELIEVE God’s Word immediately before Satan has a chance to sweep it away from me.

“Change me!”  It sounds so Christian doesn’t it?  But, if I MEAN IT it is Christian for it means yielding me to Him for His use in whatever way He plans.

Are you still willing to pray and mean the same? Are you willing to be in it for the whole race?

Praying,
-Faye