HOW CAN I CHANGE MY LIFE ?

1 Peter 2:1-3 – TPT – So abandon every form of evil, deceit, hypocrisy, feelings of jealousy and slander. In the same way that nursing infants cry for milk, you must intensely crave the pure spiritual milk of God’s Word. For this “milk” will cause you to grow into maturity, fully nourished and strong for life — especially now that you have had a taste of the goodness of the Lord Jehovah and have experienced his kindness.

I remember doing street evangelism in the early days of my ministry. I can remember clearly walking down Canal Street in New Orleans and thinking about what I was asking people to do as I shared the gospel. I was actually asking folks to change their whole lives. To change their dress, speech, forms of entertainment, and what they put into their bodies. I was asking them to stop sleeping around and to stop the party lifestyle. I remember thinking how ridiculous those expectations were; ridiculous at least until you experience the goodness of God for yourself. After all, it is only the goodness of God that can lead us to repentance. So, at the end of the day, the most unusual thing of all is at the center of the major change the gospel demands. What is this thing? It is joy, unparalleled pleasure found in Christ alone. Here is one of my favorite all time quotes. This is Augustine at his best describing true conversion and change.

“During all those years [of rebellion], where was my free will? What was the hidden, secret place from which it was summoned in a moment, so that I might bend my neck to your easy yoke? . . . How sweet all at once it was for me to be rid of those fruitless joys which I had once feared to lose! . . . You drove them from me, you who are the true, the sovereign joy. You drove them from me and took their place, you who are sweeter than all pleasure, though not to flesh and blood, you who outshine all light, yet are hidden deeper than any secret in our hearts, you who surpass all honor, though not in the eyes of men who see all honor in themselves. . . .O Lord my God, my Light, my Wealth, and my Salvation.”

So the way to lose all of those things we were afraid to lose is in tasting deeply of the goodness of the Lord. It is impossible to be totally free from the pleasures of our carnal appetites without awakening a stronger appetite found only in the Lord. Try Him for yourself, I haven’t seen anyone disappointed yet.