The more things change, they continue to change

The saying goes the more things change, the more they stay the same.  In my life, this what I don't hope for.

I pray for change to change me for good instead of making me the same.  The only thing I want to stay the same is God and that my love will continue to grow.  I've learned a lot more about loving your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39 - paraphrase) as well as loving the Lord my God will all my heart and with all my soul and with all my mind (Matthew 22:37 - paraphrase)...it's a theme I've heard throughout the year and has become a theme of how I am changing....

This year has been a lot of sharing of issues in my life that have been demons but not just in a way that helps me temporarily.  I have been given freedom from addiction in ways that have forced me to change in a good way.  I have accountability for the first time and something I've yearned for.  I have older brothers who are looking out for me as I've shared my deepest, darkest and most shameful secrets and they show no judging but only encouragement in accountability.  All I know is that I want this change to continue in my life.  I don't want things to stay the same going forward from fasting, praying, retreats, discipline, dedication to a group of people and worship...God's just blessed my life remarkably. 

An example of this blessing is that I've started a list of prayers for all my brothers and sisters at church, for work and for my family.  I'm not a prayer warrior by any means but writing these "requests" down is something that keeps me dedicated to prayer because I too easily find excuses not to pray.  I just look for things to pray for based on the conversations I have or just observations of people's lives.  Prayers have been answered left and right so I know that something good is happening for them and it gives me more motivation to keep praying for people.  I want to love my neighbor more because many times I have been a wretched neighbor who could care less about people including those nearby me...God has been thawing my heart. 

I've been blessed mightily this year and have seen it blossom out into others.  I pray this continues.