Have you ever prayed for God to change something in your life, only to realize that He was trying to change something in you?
We pray for better and sometimes, while we are waiting for God to answer, He starts pointing at the very habits, attitudes, choices, and patterns we keep holding onto.
That part can be uncomfortable. Because sometimes we want God to change our circumstances without requiring anything different from us.
We want God to open a new door while we are still standing in a place He has been telling us to leave.
We want a closer relationship with God while giving Him whatever time we have left after everything else gets our attention.
At some point, we have to ask ourselves a difficult question:
Am I praying for change while refusing to change?
“to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Ephesians 4:22-24 ESV
Notice the language: put off and put on.
There is movement involved.
There are things we have to release and things we have to embrace.
Following God will sometimes require us to stop doing what feels natural because He is teaching us a better way.
At some point we have to stop asking God to bless what He keeps telling us to release.
This one can be hard.
Sometimes we already know what God has been dealing with us about.
We just keep praying because we are hoping His answer will eventually change.
“God, please make this relationship work.”
And deep down, you know He has been showing you why it is unhealthy.
“God, please give me peace.”
Yet you continue inviting chaos back into your life.
“God, please help me move forward.”
But you keep reopening doors to your past.
Jesus said:
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
John 14:15 ESV
Obedience is not always easy. Sometimes it hurts. Sometimes it means ending something we desperately wanted to work.
But obedience makes room for God to lead us somewhere different.
Maybe God Is Changing You Before He Changes Your Situation
We usually notice what is happening around us first.
But God pays attention to what is happening within us.
That difficult season you desperately want to escape may be teaching you something you will need in the next season.
You may be learning how to depend on God instead of people.
You may be realizing how much of your identity became attached to something God never intended to define you.
Romans 12:2 says:
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…”
Romans 12:2 ESV
Transformation begins deeper than our circumstances.
Sometimes God changes the way we think before He changes what we see.
You may still be in the same situation, but you are responding differently.
Things that used to trigger you do not have the same power anymore.
You are becoming slower to react and quicker to pray.
Do not overlook what God is doing inside you simply because everything around you has not changed yet.
One of the most powerful prayers we can pray is:
“Lord, show me what needs to change in me.”
That prayer requires humility.
David prayed:
“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”
Psalm 139:23-24 ESV
That is a courageous prayer.
When we pray like David, we stop treating prayer as a way to convince God to do what we want and begin allowing prayer to bring our hearts into alignment with Him.
The Change You Are Praying For May Begin With You
Maybe you have been asking God for something different.
Keep praying.
But while you pray, remain open to what God wants to change in you.
Sometimes the breakthrough begins when we finally stop resisting what He’s trying to teach us.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says:
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV
You cannot keep praying for a different life while insisting on carrying every old habit, mindset, relationship, and pattern into it.
Ask God for change.
Believe Him for change.
And when He shows you what needs to change in you, be willing to move.
If you’re praying for a change in any area of your life, I invite you to pray this prayer with me.
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for hearing every prayer I bring before You. I know there are situations in my life that I desperately want to see change, but today I ask You to also show me where I need to change.
Search my heart, Lord. Reveal the habits, attitudes, relationships, fears, and patterns that are keeping me from growing into the person You are calling me to become.
Give me the courage to obey You even when obedience is uncomfortable. Help me stop returning to things You have already helped me leave behind. Teach me to recognize Your direction and trust You enough to follow it.
Renew my mind. Strengthen my faith. Give me wisdom to know what needs to change and discipline to follow through.
While I am waiting for You to change my circumstances, continue changing my heart. Make me wiser, stronger, more patient, more discerning, and more dependent on You.
I trust Your correction. I trust Your direction.
And I trust that every change You lead me toward is preparing me for where You are taking me.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
