How Change Really Happens

On Saturdays, I participate in a spiritual recovery group. Together we’ve learned that if we want to experience real change, we must first identify our addiction, embrace our brokenness, and surrender to God.

People often try many things to change—goals, programs, church, money, or even other people. Yet Allen Deutschman, in his best-seller Change or Die, highlights a sobering truth: studies show that 9 out of 10 people don’t change their lifestyles and behaviors, even when their very lives depend on it. Smoking, drinking, poor diets, unchecked stress—most won’t stop, even at the edge of life and death.

Why? Because historically, we’ve relied on facts, fear, and force to drive change. But those methods rarely last. Deutschman found that when people are stuck, the keys to transformation are:
    •    Relationship – walking with others in love and accountability.
    •    Repetition – practicing new patterns until they stick.
    •    Reframing – learning to see life through a new lens.

Those are helpful, but for true and lasting transformation, I believe you must go deeper—you must go to God. Step 7 in the Big Book says, “We humbly ask Him to remove our shortcomings.” This isn’t about surface positivity or feeling good; it’s about forgiveness, restoration, and God removing what is broken in us and reconciling us to Himself.

Only God can clear the mess, revive a repentant heart, and truly make all things new.

Take comfort in His promise:

“Build up, build up, prepare the road!
Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.
For this is what the high and exalted One says—
he who lives forever, whose name is holy:
‘I live in a high and holy place,
but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly
and to revive the heart of the contrite.’” (Isaiah 57:14–15)

Grace to you,
Cedric
Traditionalwriter@yahoo.com