Radical Change

Radical Change

by Diana Scothorn

I have learned I cannot “Become” all God called me to be if I choose to remain where I am. When I’m in a situation where I need a radical change in my life, my health, or my body, I know that it won’t happen without radical changes in my way of doing things, thinking, and in the attitude of my heart!

It’s the “Be” “Coming” that requires hard work on my part! To come means to arrive by movement, in the course of progress. To become means to change or grow or to be as specified.

I’ve discovered that my entire life journey requires me to progress daily, as I imitate Jesus! The more I think as He thinks, imitates His ways, with an expectant attitude, the more I’ll begin to see a change in myself and my life!

When I read the Bible, I see how we’re explicitly instructed to look like Jesus. We should appear different than the people who don’t know Jesus! We should be attractive to them. People who have no hope should be drawn toward people that have the light of Jesus! We’re to be set apart, with a standard of excellence!

I think women, in particular, struggle with their outward appearance. Having a passion for fashion since I was ten years old, I have always wanted to look put together on the outside. I felt value and validated if I looked good on the outside! I remember being in elementary school not wanting to leave my house if I did not think every hair was in the proper place, or my clothes did not look just right in my eyes. My validation came from my appearance. Now, I can genuinely and honestly tell you today, the greatest compliment anyone could give me would be to say to me I have an attractive heart!  

It has taken years for me to come to the place I realized the beauty in God’s eyes is only in the appearance of my heart! A heart filled with goodness on the inside reflects how we dress, act, and how others see us on the outside!

When I was single, men would always compliment my outward appearance, and it wasn’t until I met my husband where I finally had a man who acknowledged my heart! I had no idea how I had been craving a heart affirmation for years! We all need validation, but when the wrong things validate us, it causes us to move towards the wrongs things in our life.

Again, “becoming” is to change and grow to be like Jesus, as specified in the bible. I’ve learned when my heart is in the right place, my life follows in the right direction. A radical change in our lives that is visible outwardly will always precede a radical heart change inwardly! A good heart produces a good life! Where my heart is, my life will follow!!!

So here’s the key…when I need a change in my life in my outside circumstances, I first look at the condition of my heart on the inside! All change starts inwardly before it’s revealed outwardly.