Do you like to let go of something? Am I comfortable with change? Are we really eager to race up a different path?  For most of us our answer is likely, “No way!” because we like the familiar and feel safe with the tried and true. Have you  ever tried getting your kid to try broccoli, Brussel sprouts or asparagus for the first time? First you get the squinty eyes, then the tightly clamped lips, and if you try to proceed further they quickly swing their heads avoiding any contact with unidentified vegetables!

I have noticed that as an adult I often do the same things. God has put new situations before me that seem strange. There are opportunities that reek of difficulty and their very aroma makes me cringe inside. Paul the apostle relates his own experience with change in the book of 1 Corinthians –

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways 1 Corinthians 13:11  

He relates to the struggle we all have with change and gives us a few guidelines to help us on our way. If we are to make the transition from childhood to adulthood we need to allow Him to bring serious change in these three areas – How we speak : How we think : and  How we make decisions.

How we speak: “I’m not going to do it! You can’t make me! I hate you!” these are some of the things we hurled at our parents (or have had them hurled at us) when we were children. Fortunately for most of us we learned that there are things in life that we simply have had to accept. We did have to move to a new neighborhood. It was for our own good that Dad pulled the splinter out of our fingers. It has been to our great social advantage that we accepted regular bathing and brushing of our teeth! Giving up our no for God’s yes not only teaches us contentment, but it also puts a new language of praise on our lips.

How we think: The greatest change for a christian is not in the quantity of information that we contain but on whom we are focusing our thoughts. Spiritual maturity is not just about being smarter, but it is in recognizing the value of the people around us. We let go of a world that has me at the middle so we can walk into a life of service to whomever God chooses.

How we decide: How we make our choices will depend on who we believe is in charge of our life. The more that Christ becomes Lord the more that His will becomes the reason for the path we choose to walk. If our life consists only of reaching our own goals then all we will have at its end will be a line-up of dusty trophies on our shelf. But when the will of God takes hold our deepest struggles and highest longings we can begin to discover the great adventure of the life that He has mapped out for us. When we choose to let go and put the steering wheel of our life on his “cruise control” then the peace of God will help us to let go and so together with Him we can take hold of the amazing journey that lies ahead!