A few weeks ago, we asked you to complete a 20 Question Time Inventory to determine where you spend most of your time and, consequently, what things are most important to you.

With that information, you should be able to answer the questions below pretty quickly. Write the answers down so you have a clear visual in front of you.

What are the top 5 areas where you spend the most time?
What are the top 5 things you would say are most important to you?

How do those lists compare?

Now dig deep for the answers to these next questions:

Are you happy with where you spend your time compared to what you believe is most important to you?
Do you believe you need to make changes in your current schedule or activities so you can make the most important things the most important things?
Are you willing to make those changes? Is this your chance to make change now?

I know those questions may seem a bit redundant, but take another look.

In anything in life——–

We need to decide if we are content with where we are.

If we aren’t content, do we believe we actually need to change. And, if we believe we need to change, are we willing to do what it takes to make change happen?

So many times we say we’re unhappy with things in our lives – our finances, our health, our marriage, our relationship with God – but we just can’t seem to take that next step and actually make change happen.

I believe the #1 culprit for this can be summed up in It Only Hurts When I Listen by my friend Dr. John Brunstetter:

“The one common denominator in all sustained behavior change is that the new behavior must be perceived to be significantly better than the existing behavior.”

In other words – we WILL NOT do what it takes to change until the benefits of changing outweigh the consequences of not.

Social pressures from the world around you won’t make it happen. Your friends and family can’t make it happen.

It MUST be your decision.

You must decide within your heart and mind that it is the right one.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” – Romans 12:2

Paul tells us that if we want to see REAL transformation. Transformation that lasts, we have to start with our thoughts. We have to renew our thinking so that the mundane routine of the “same old thang” doesn’t keep us from realizing the much better thing available to us.

Notice he doesn’t say we are transformed by someone else telling us we should be. Or, by TV commercials making us feel bad. Or, by giving yourself a reward. Nope – Paul says it has to originate from within us.

So, what are you thinking?

When you look at your time inventory, and you compare your two lists, what do you see?

Are you happy? Do you think things need to change?Do you believe the consequences of not changing are so detrimental that it’s time to make something happen?

Are you willing to do what it takes?

Mull over the answers to these questions and really do some soul searching.

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the areas where sustained change needs to happen: Do you need to take better care of your body -eat better/be more active? Do you need to spend more time with your kids? Spend more time with God? Spend more time doing anything besides spending money?