How To Eat An Elephant

I took an honest inventory of all my bad habits and I wrote down everything I wanted to change. I couldn’t help but get a little discouraged over the size of my list, which was uber long and had things on it that I’ve been struggling with since 2010. I became overwhelmed as I thought about my past attempts at change, all my failures and the endless disappointments. What’s going to be different this time?

Well…

This time I asked the Lord to search my heart and to point out those things in me that He found displeasing. Not just the things I felt I needed to change. I confessed my sins, asked for forgiveness and most importantly, I received it; just as His word said in 1 John 1:9.

I ignored the lies that I had come to believe; that I wasn’t really forgiven, and that I should be ashamed and feel guilty for the things that I’ve done. My beliefs were wrong, and God’s word proved it so in Romans 8:1, and 2 Corinthians, 5:17: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”.  ”This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

So now that I’ve come to my senses, I look at my list of “opportunities” from God’s point of view and not the worldly point of view I had been conditioned to believe for so long. Romans 12:2 says it best, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

So, if you’re anything like me and have the need to take personal inventory of your sins and everyone else’s, pause a moment and ask yourself, is this good, acceptable, perfect and does it glorify God? If it doesn’t, read and memorize Romans 12:2 until it sinks in.

Now back to my list…

Instead of epic fails, I keep a list of goals and accomplishments. I write down all the amazing things that God has done for me, as well as His promises. My list is still elephant sized, but I trust that God will finish the work he’s started in me. Proverbs 3:5-6 is especially encouraging; “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

So, how do you eat an elephant? Well, one bite at a time, of course!

Trish Johnson