When we make the decision to change, we often do it because we are sick and tired of the life that we have been living. That choice is usually based on an earnest desire to do things differently. However, under on our own strength, it doesn’t always work out that way. Meaningful change is based upon something much stronger than our own self-will.

We live in a society that attempts to describe changed lives in terms of New Year’s resolutions, self-help and so-called “higher states of consciousness”. On the other hand, biblically based healing leads to a different and more permanent kind of change, change that comes from the inside out, not from the outside in. Most of us have tried a number of different ways to achieve lasting change in our lives. We’ve bought the books, attended the seminars and watched the TV shows. We’ve bravely fought our way through weeks, months or years of self-inflicted pain, only to create even more chaos for ourselves and those around us. With all this failure in mind, how can we create real and enduring change in our lives?

The answer to this question lies in the source of power that we use to make the change. The only power that can overcome the pain of addiction, the devastation of divorce, the hurt of codependency or damage of any other human failing is the power of the living God. God is in the change business. Since the very beginning, He has been taking broken lives and turning them into success stories for the purposes of His kingdom. He has the ability to make all things work together for the good of those that place their faith in Him. God promises us that He can and will change our lives through His Holy Spirit. This is the true power of brokenness. Consider this:

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:26-28) NIV

The problem is how do we get to a place where we can have the faith to trust God to change our lives? Such change comes only when we have made a decision to turn away from those things that are destroying us and our relationship with Him. God can only move when we begin to see the love He has for us and allow that to shape our daily actions. At the same time, we can’t allow ourselves to become discouraged by fear, guilt or shame. Moving in such a negative spirit has a power of its own that will only cause us to turn back in defeat to the way things were before.