May 12, 2010 - Andy Hurst

MAY 12, 2010

ineedtochange.org has hopefully been a great time of change, growth, and transformation for us all. The day we stop changing is the day we start dying, and the day that we stop being formed and transformed by the power and the presence of God’s Holy Spirit living within us is the day we stop living.

As I’ve read through all these powerful devotionals on change, it has become so clear to me that God has been and that God is definitely up to something here at Trinity UMC. The move of His Spirit, the reality of His grace, and the availability of you, His sons and His daughters has truly led not just to individual change but relational change, corporate change, community change, and yes before it is all said and done, global change. May God continue His work in and through all of us in the days ahead!

In these days of change and weeks of transformation, I have found myself singing two songs to myself and even at times singing these songs out loud (aren’t you glad you weren’t around for that?): “Little by Little” and “Some Day Jesus.”

Little by Little

Little by little everyday
Little by little in every way
Jesus is changing me, He changing me.

Since I made a turn about face
I’ve been living in His grace
Jesus is changing me.

He’s changing me
My blessed Savior
I’m not the same person that I use to be
Weeelllll, it’s been slow goin’, but I’m so glad knowin’
That someday perfect I will be.

Someday Jesus

Someday Jesus gonna call my name
As days go by, I hope I don’t stay the same
I wanna get so close to Him that it’s no big change
On that day that Jesus calls my name.

One song, “Little by Little,” talks about the process of change. The other song, “Someday Jesus,” talks about the purpose of change. Little by little is how God often and how God continually brings change and transformation to our lives. As God brings such change in our lives we need to trust His heart and trust His hands at work in us even when, maybe especially when, we can’t really figure out what’s He’s up to. These ineedtochange devos clearly gave witness to a God who deeply loves us and who truly has our best in His mind and in His heart. The purpose of all this change is that God is forming us and transforming us into the very image of Christ. God’s grace is not just about getting us into heaven, but getting heaven into us. God’s Spirit desires not just to get us saved, but to get us different. This work of grace and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives is truly about making us more and more like Jesus. I praise God for all of these devo writers and for all of you who have been and who are willing to be shaped and molded by the Master Potter into such beautiful and wonderful Christ-like sons and daughters of the Living God!!!

With much love and much desire for God’s change to come us all,

Andy