Part Two: Making Changes That Bless Our Lives
(If you didn’t read Part One of this devotional, I encourage you to do so—it lays the foundation for what follows.)
Let me teach you something about change—something that may surprise you and help you better understand both yourself and the plan of God.
Every human being was created with a desire to change.
That may sound strange at first. After all, people often resist change. But resistance doesn’t mean the desire isn’t there. In fact, people want to mature, improve, and become better versions of themselves. At the same time, they fear change deeply. One of the greatest fears surrounding change is the fear of failure—the fear that this time will end like all the others.
People know their track record. They remember the attempts that didn’t last, the promises they couldn’t keep, and the disciplines they abandoned. And yet, beneath all of that history, there remains a quiet, persistent longing to grow, to mature, and to live differently.
That longing didn’t come from nowhere.
God has embedded three universal desires in the heart of every human being. Scripture, observation, and even research all bear this out. These three desires are directly connected to meaningful, lasting change.
First, God has embedded in every heart the desire to know Him.
Whether people admit it or deny it, the human spirit yearns to understand God—to be reconciled to Him, to know the truth about who He is, and to find peace with Him. This desire exists even in those who claim not to believe. Many push God away, not because the desire is absent, but because fear is present.
People fear choosing the wrong god. They fear failing to please a holy and righteous God. And because they don’t yet understand the depth of His love, they withdraw. They don’t realize that God is not asking them to succeed or fail for Him—He has already succeeded for them through Jesus Christ. Salvation is a gift, not a test. Deep down, the longing to know God remains until a person finally yields and begins to sincerely seek Him.
The second universal desire God has embedded within us is the desire to become Christ-like.
This is an ongoing, lifelong longing placed in the heart of every believer—to grow in character, love, humility, and obedience, and to reflect Jesus more clearly. This desire fuels the pursuit of good and godly change.
Romans 8:29 (NIV) “…He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son.”
2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT) “The Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image.”
Notice the language: changed, transformed, made more and more like Him. God never intended spiritual life to be stagnant. Growth and change are central to His design.
The third universal desire God has embedded in every person is the yearning to participate in the supernatural.
This may sound surprising, but it’s everywhere. Why are children and adults alike fascinated with superheroes? Why has the superhero genre dominated entertainment for decades? It taps into a deep, God-given awareness that there is more to life than the natural world.
People sense that there is a spiritual dimension—and they long to participate in it.
God doesn’t discourage that desire. He fulfills it.
2 Peter 1:3–4 (NIV) “God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness… so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”
Did you catch that phrase—participate in the divine nature?
The strength to say no to sin, to overcome fear of failure, and to make lasting changes does not come from human willpower alone. It comes from supernatural grace—God’s Spirit living within us. This is what turns repeated failure into steady progress. This is what gives believers courage to try again, to rise after setbacks, and to move forward instead of quitting.
When we truly know God’s love, His mercy, His patience, and His desire for us to succeed, we begin to change—not perfectly, but genuinely. Change becomes possible because we are no longer doing it alone.
We’ll talk more about how this works in Part Three. For now, settle this in your heart: God has placed within you the desire to know Him, the desire to become like Christ, and the desire to participate in His divine nature so that real change can happen.
Psalm 37:4 (NLT) “Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you your heart’s desires.”
