Seriously?

Photo by Amy Reed on Unsplash

Have you ever been at a point in your life where you realized that you needed to make some changes? Maybe you have some health issues you need to address. Maybe your finances are starting to get out of whack. Maybe there are some friendships you want to work on. Maybe you just need to take care of yourself a little better. There are many areas in our lives where we should get serious about making good and lasting changes. The benefits we can reap are tremendous, if we are willing to put in the work.

Eating nutritious food and starting an exercise program will give you better health. Creating a budget, spending your money wisely, and saving some cash each month will help give you peace of mind about your finances. Spending quality time with your friends and loved ones gives you much needed social and emotional support. Taking time out each week to do something that you enjoy allows you to rejuvenate and relax. By making these types of changes, you can make your life better and more enjoyable.

To make any real and lasting changes in our lives, we have got to be deliberate and sincere in wanting to make those changes. We can’t be wishy-washy. We can’t be double-minded or go back and forth. We have to REALLY want it and be intentional about making the changes we need. However, in order to make these changes, YOU have to be the one decide to do them. YOU are the one taking action here. Only you can make the decision to change your life for the better. No one else can do it for you. You are the responsible party and you are responsible to and for yourself.

As I have been growing in my relationship with God and wanting to make better, more responsible life choices, something has occurred to me. No matter what other areas of my life I need to work on, there is one specific area that I should be devoting most of my attention to: my relationship with God.  

I truly believe that once we get serious about our relationship with Christ, He will give us the help, strength, guidance, and wisdom we need to make better life decisions in every other area of our lives. With His help, we can get serious about making significant changes elsewhere. God wants us to live lives of abundance and happiness. (See Psalm 37:3-4, Psalm 126:2, Luke 6:21, and John 10:10)   

So, if you seriously want to get healthy and lose weight, get serious about God. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 tells us, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

If you seriously want to get your finances in good order, get serious about God. Luke 14:28 tells us, “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?”

If you want to seriously nurture and grow your relationships, get serious about God. Ephesians 4:2-3 tells us, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”

If you are serious about living a better, joy-filled life, get serious about God. Psalm 89:15-16 tells us, “Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord. They rejoice in your name all day long; they celebrate your righteousness.”

​So, are you serious about making changes for the better? I hope so!  The first step is to get serious about God. I will leave you with one last bible verse. This one connects the dots to all the others I mention above. Matthew 6:33 tells us, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.”