So hopefully this week, we have started to take our eyes off of others and hopefully we have started to inspect our on lives!  If we have taken the time to inspect our lives, then we know that there are some things that we want to change and even more importantly, there are some things that we have to change!  If you have not made you “Change List” – STOP right now!  Think about it!  What needs to change in your life so that you can be all that God created you to be?  Make your list – please!

Yesterday, you should have taken some time to think through some of the people that God has placed around you that can help you with these changes.  You may think that you can handle this by yourself and that you don’t need any help, but somewhere inside of yourself – you know better!  Start building your “Change Team” today – give these people the information and permission they need to help you with the changes that you are going to be working to make!

The Third Step is to Design A Plan!  There are basically five questions that you will need to ask yourself and answer about each change that you are going to be making.  Here are the questions:

1.)  What are you going to do?

2.)  How are you going to do it?

3. )  When will you start?

4.)  Where will you be at the beginning, middle and end of the process?

5.)  Why must you do this?

Use these questions to help you think through the changes that you need to make in your life and start to put together a step y step plan of the steps that you will take to make change a reality!  WE CAN DO THIS!

How did you do yesterday?  Did you make a decision to make your life better?  Did you make a decision about some things in your life that you want to change and did you figure out that there are some things that you are going to have to change?  If so, then you are on your way to experiencing some positive change and amazing miracles!  Today we will take a look at the second step!

Step Two:  Get Help!  You cannot do change and do it right by yourself!  Who do you have around you that really cares about you?  Who do you have around you that can help you in the positive ways that you need help?  Who do you have that can lift you to new levels and push you to greater heights?  If you can’t think of anyone, then you need to get busy searching!  You need to start to build a team of friends that you can help and that can help you!

Take some time right now to identify people around you that could help you become the better you!  Now make a plan to go and ask these people to help you in dealing with the things that you have decided must change in your life.  Let them know that you respect them and think that they will be an asset in helping you to go to a new place in your life!  Remember you invited them to help you, so don’t force your help upon them, but be willing to give it when they ask!

The Bible says that two are better than one, because they have greater return for their labor!  God plus you and your friends equal a majority! And it will be amazing what can be accomplished in and through your life with a majority team!  (Tomorrow we will talk about your plan for change!)

For the next several days – I want to take some time to talk about personal change!  When we take our eyes off of others and start to investigate our own lives, we will begin to identify some stuff that we need work on and through.  We all have stuff that if we would take the time to deal with it, life would be better and we would be more productive!  John Kotter, a professor at Harvard Business School in His 1995 book, “Leading Change” presented an eight step process for change.  I have personalized the process and want to share some insight into how you can use it to start bringing about positive change in your life!

Step One:  Make The Decision!  Decide that you want to change and decide that you have to change!  Decide that you want to change – Most all of us could identify some area of our life where we need to change.  The main reason that most of us don’t change is because, while we want to change, we don’t ever really take the time or make the commitment to change!  When we do make the decision then we begin the process, which is important because you cannot have an ending without a beginning!

If you are honest with yourself – there are some things in your life that you have to change or you are not going to have a very good life!  It may be taking on and getting rid of destructive behaviors.  It might be seeking forgiveness and strength to defeat some sin.  It might be spiritual, physical, financial, emotional, mental – you name it!  What is it in your life that you want to change and what is it in your life that you have to change or you are not going to have much of a life?  Identify the “it” and make the decision to deal with “it” and you will be on your way to victory!  A good question to ask yourself here is:  “What happens if  do nothing?”

Take this step today and we will take a second step tomorrow!