Changes

I am writing this article in the form of a letter and I know that many of us feel like this, therefore I am addressing it to our Father in Heaven.

Dear Father

I start this letter to You with so much joy in my heart.  It is a privilege to say that I am Your daughter, a princess of the most High.  I honour you for your love and truth.  I glorify Your Holy Name!  You are sovereign and You reign!  Jesus, I worship You, and acknowledge that it is only You that I desire.  You are my best friend, forever!  Holy Spirit, words cannot say how much You mean to me.  When I feel alone, You are always, always there.  Thank you for being my everything, I glorify You! Amen!

Father, I write to You today, to say thank you for who I am.  Thank you for my life.  In the 38 years You have given me, I have built up so many memories.  There were times when I messed up and then there were times when I rose above the challenges in my life and contributed to the building of relationships, the forming of personalities and sometimes I was simply giving an ear when no one wanted to hear.  I have had a fantastic childhood with parents who gave up everything for their children.  I remember how my mother would put us first when we were feeling ill.  She would stay at home and take care of us, putting us above her work.  There were times when my dad would work shifts, but he was never too tired to play with us.  Thank you Father for my parents.

Lord, when I think back over the past 20 years, You have given me a good husband and 2 beautiful children.  You have blessed me in the Spirit to the degree that I don’t only believe in You, I feel You inside and around me all the time, no matter where I go or what I do.  My every breath is for You!  I love You!

When I look back at my life, Father, everything has been good, but nothing of this would have happened if it was not for change.  Continuously I had to change and be changed to grow into that which You wanted me to be.  I had to change the way I think, talk and live my life.  I had to change my approach to whatever life throws at me.  Then again, I had to change my attitude and own self, to become less so that You would become more.  In all of this, I still grow on a daily basis to be the best I can be, for You!  Thank You Lord, for changing me, even when it hurts and I don’t see the reasoning behind it.

Many times I question change.  I ask Lord, why I have to be the least?  Why should I be the one to fight for special things in my life, and why does it often feel like I have given up so much of myself that I don’t know myself anymore.  At work, I have to be the least and as a mother, I know that nothing is more important than my children and their needs.  As a wife, I must be submissive and although there are times when I need attention or just a word of encouragement, it is not about me.  Often I get caught up in feeling so alone, and then start to think about how much I give up of myself to serve others.  Then, for only a moment, I feel that I don’t exist.  This is my heart today Lord, this is what I feel so often.  Thank You that I could share this with You, my Lord.  Because, although I know that it is wrong to feel like this, I also need to acknowledge how I feel.

Dear Lord, please know that when I write this to You, it is not because I am ungrateful or that I complain.  It is simply to say that I know that change is needed and that it is for the good, but sometimes it hurts and to keep the focus on what the change will bring, will be what carries one through.  Father, there are so many people out there, who have not had a wonderful childhood, who are not happy at work or in their marriage and relationships.  Our country is facing many challenges and therefore also changes.  My heart goes out to them tonight, who feel like they have had to give up so much of themselves that they have forgotten who they are.  I pray Lord, that all of us will remember that life is not about us, but about You and only You!  I pray Father, that we will allow You to change us, because then the change is for the good and even if we don’t see Your plan for us, that we will trust You.  It is an honour to have a job, to be a parent, a wife or husband, a friend.  I am proud to be a South African and I love my country and its people.  Therefore Lord, please come and change us to be like You, to live and do Your will.  Only when we give ourselves over to You and allow You to work at our lives, can we accept change.  Change starts with each individual acknowledging You as our true Lord and Saviour.  I give myself Lord, my everything.  Oh Lord, please change me!

Father, I pray this prayer with a humble heart, in the name of Jesus.  Amen!

Dear reader let us give ourselves over to be changed by God.  Do not change because of people and the pressures of this world.  We must allow ourselves to be changed because of what God has planned for us.  We must put ourselves aside and look at God’s will for our country, our workplaces, our marriages, our children and our walk with Jesus.  It might not be easy, but I challenge you today, allow yourself to be changed by Him.  Start by reading and acknowledging the scriptures in James 4:10 that says “humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up” and John 3:30 “He must become greater; I must become less.”

I trust that this word will bless you and that you will, like me, remember who we are, why we were created and that life is not about me, myself and I.

With lots of love in Jesus Name, Princess K