(Courtney’s Notes from 2018, Andy Stanley )

I believe that people change.

But I don’t believe that people change people. And I don’t believe that people change for people.

People change themselves.

People change themselves WHEN they get sick and tired of themselves, WHEN the pain of staying the same is too great to bear or WHEN there’s a goal so enticing that it draws them away from what and who they used to be.

That’s when people change.

Now you might be thinking, hold up Courtney – God changes people. And you are correct! God’s word says it and we’ve seen it with our own eyes. We’ve seen God take people from lost to found, from darkness to light, from sin to righteousness and we stand in awe of his work in their lives.

And so we pray, “Lord, change my loved one.”

And we can pray that over and over and over but that person has a will. And they can choose to rebel and push back against God changing them. And so a life change will only take place when that person wants the change and when a person is surrendered to God.

When a person is completely surrendered to God — God changes them from the inside out. But God does not change people against their will. They have to want to surrender to God and be changed.

So are you waiting on a loved one to change?

Pray the above quote over their lives.

Pray that they get sick and tired of the way they are living and that the pain of staying the same would be too much to bear and that that would lead them to crying out for help – whether that help comes through turning to God and his word, a pastor, a wise friend or a counselor.

And while you are praying and waiting – work on yourself.

Are you fearful, angry, critical, or always reacting too quickly? Work on that – find scripture or listen to sermons on how to handle your fear and anger.

Or perhaps you are the opposite – maybe you are too too accommodating and passive? Work on that. It is not selfish to speak up. It is healthy. If you are called difficult – take that as a compliment – that means you are learning to share your opinions and feelings just like everyone else does and that’s okay!

Are you bitter? Work on that. Do not let bitterness take root in your heart.

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled. 

Hebrews 12:14-15

As you wait for your loved one to change, trust in the Lord, be strong and work on the one person you CAN change – yourself.

Stay surrendered to the Lord and keep walking with the King,

Courtney

        

Comments

• Thank you Courtney, I needed this. This was God working through ... by Jill
• Amen! Thank you Courtney – you have no idea how much I needed ... by JulieM

 

I am creating this second blog titled “Courtney’s Notes” because I need a space where I can exhale.  For over a decade I have been writing and leading women’s Bible Studies over at WomenLivingWell.org . I LOVE it!  It is a complete joy to get to journey through the Bible, cover to cover, with you all.  But sometimes the Lord lays on my heart topics that do not flow with the Bible Studies I am leading, so rather than just storing it all in my journals, I thought I’d create a space to share it with you here. 

I want this blog to be less formal and more old school – like back in the days when I first started blogging.   So it will be random, unfiltered, informal, sometimes deep and heavy as I share more personal stuff and sometimes light hearted, if I share a recipe or a funny story from my life.  I may be here frequently one month and gone for a bit the next, based on how much time I have.  It will ebb and flow with my life, while I consistently show up at Women Living Well and lead Bible Studies. 

Also, many of you know that my life took a hard turn 5 years ago when my high school sweetheart (we dated for 4 years before marrying) and husband of 19 years left.  I have kept nearly everything private during this time but I don’t want it to seem that I have shoved it all under the rug. 

So while I still have a need to keep things as private as possible, I do plan to “go there.”  I am now raising two teenagers as a single mom and so I hope to be able to share some of those challenges here as well.

So, if you want to get my notes in your email inbox – subscribe to this blog along the sidebar.  This blog is not connected to Women Living Well’s blog, so if you are already subscribed there – you still have to subscribe here as well to receive my notes.  

So let’s get started – and see where this leads!!!  

Keep walking with the King,
Courtney 

        

Comments

• On a lighter note …. I remember you telling us that you were ... by Patricia
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• Hi Courtney- I have been a fan for years and in a difficult ... by jackie
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