You Are Not the Same
Day 329

You are not the same person you were before. Too much has changed
within and without. Do not try to fall back into the same patterns because
you will only struggle to fit into a lifestyle that no longer fits. In
order to live this new life, you must first identify the areas of your
life that you struggle with, and then take steps to learn how to move
forward in those areas. For instance, you might find yourself in new
situations that you are not comfortable in without your loved one, or you
might have new responsibilities that you do not know how to fulfill
because your loved one used to take care of them for you.

Here is where you need to grow. God will provide what you need to
experience true growth. Pray for wisdom as you develop new patterns of
living.

Gretchen says, "My husband could talk to anybody about anything for any
length of time, and I just always let him do it. I wasn't a big
talker, but the Lord gave me some of that talking ability after he died. And
I've been grateful for that because I was very happy in just letting my
husband carry the conversation with people. Now, every time I go to
something that I really wished I didn't have to go to, I just call on the
Lord. The Lord is so faithful. Every single time I get through it and
wind up enjoying it."

By God's grace you can be changed. You do not have to try and be the
person you were before, because that is not possible. Instead . . .

"Put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image
of its Creator" (Colossians 3:10).

Lord, even though I don't necessarily want to change, I know that I
must. Give me confidence and wisdom in the areas that I struggle with.
Amen.

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