By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer
With the change of the calendar comes the almost irresistible urge to change other things in our lives. Not light bulbs, sheets, or towels, but things like habits, reactions, and goals.
I’ll not use the phrase New Year’s resolution due to my experience as a newspaper reporter. I covered countless city- and county-government meetings where resolutions were simply fancy pieces of paper. Sometimes they honored outstanding citizens in the community, but aside from that, most resolutions were toothless paperwork that meant and did absolutely nothing.
I want to talk about real change.
True change is difficult and often unwelcome. It has been said that the only one who truly welcomes change is a wet baby. Does that mean we are satisfied with the status quo until we become uncomfortable?
Over the years I’ve been asked what I would change about myself if I could.
At a young women’s church retreat one year, the question was posed to our small group. Most of the answers had to do with appearance: losing weight, exercising more, eating a more healthy diet, laying off junk food.
Several years later the question came up in another group setting, and I knew immediately what I would change. I would be smarter. I would have better comebacks, be quicker on the verbal draw, have cleaver answers, rather than respond like the proverbial deer in the headlights, thinking of something thirty minutes later. I envied people who were verbally quick-witted.
Recently, in the more seasoned years of my life, I have again considered what I would change, and I’ve realized that I would listen more and talk less. But if I could change the listening part, it would involve recognition. I would change my ability to recognize the voice of God and respond accordingly. Without hesitation. Without waiting for understanding to boost my courage.
I have learned that understanding has nothing to do with obedience and often stalls faith.
However, I must accurately recognize His voice, for our enemy seeks to mislead us. The way to recognize our Lord’s voice is by reading His word—exactly the way I recognized the literary “voice” of my writing students when I taught college composition. I was so familiar with their everyday writing projects that it was easy to detect plagiarism.
If I could change anything, I would change my ability to hear My Lord and obey immediately.
During this Christmas season, much has been said of a young woman named Mary who carried the Christ child and birthed Him into this imperfect world. Yet of this likely teen-aged virgin, it is written, “Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord” (Luke 1:45).
This girl recognized the Word of the Lord spoken through the angel and said, “Okay.”
Yes, she had questions, but they were answered in ways that required faith. She chose to obey.
I realized this week that it can be said of me—and anyone— “blessed is she/he who believed” whatever the Lord has told us. We don’t have to understand how it’s all going to work out. We have only to take Him at His word.
The Holy Spirit moves of His own volition. I can’t force His hand or change His mind. But I can obey.
So can you.
May it be said of us in 2026, “blessed are they who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told them from the Lord.”
~
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Jed stood beneath the stars, wearing the coat last worn by Hope, smelling the scent of her hair on the collar.
“Oh, God, what now?”
Wasn’t he justified in being angry with a woman who lied to him about who she was?
Hypocrite, he had called her, and the indictment condemned him and his own less-than-perfect life.
But it was more than that. It was who she became that left him snubbed to the post with no way loose.
Did he believe that she was on her way to tell him the truth?
Did he believe that she did what she did to keep a deathbed promise? Why else would she do such a thing? It certainly wasn’t for money. She’d left behind half of what she’d earned, and he still didn’t understand why.
All he knew for certain was that his grandchildren needed her. He needed her. His life and heart would never be right without her. ~ A Thorn in Winter’s Grasp
I would change how I view my possessions and be more responsive to the needs of my neighbors
An insightful goal, Esther. Blessings to you.
Be more active and lose more weight.
More power to you, Julie. Blessings.
After years of saying I just can not pray this way, it has been made quite clear to me that I MUST pray “Whatever it takes, Lord!” when praying for the salvation of my lost children and their children. I have fought using those words for a very long time…and it remains difficult to say them. But, I have determined to make this change.
What a trusting step of faith, Barbara. Indeed, nothing must stand in the way of our prayers for our children’s and grandchildren’s salvation and peace. Blessings to you.
I’m with you, I want to be quick to accept what God says, with a curious waiting to understand.
Thank you for the prompt.
Prayers for healing and health today, my friend. 🧡
A curious waiting – I like that, Elaine. Blessings!
Thank you for the lovely Christmas card and bookmark. I did actually send a few cards out but was a bit late. Haven’t got back in the swing of things since I lost my husband 2 years ago. Will try to do better next year!
Blessings to you, Kathleen.