Shift Change

Today's Reading: Acts 19:1-10

There have been times in my life when I was suffering under the mistaken notion that something was a particular way and then found out I was completely wrong. You've probably had a similar experience, haven't you? We are just moving along in out own little worlds when we find out some news that turns everything on its head!

During Paul's travels he met up with some believers who were in that same situation. They believed what they had been taught by John the Baptist. They'd even been baptized into repentance. But they had not been baptized into Jesus or received the Holy Spirit. And so Paul taught them about Jesus, placed his hands on them, and they were baptized, receiving the Holy Spirit. Don't you imagine that was quite a shift in their way of thinking?

Sometimes we need a shift in our thinking too. We may need to look at our lives or our walk with Jesus in a different way to move through a stronghold or to receive instruction. Conviction often brings a shift in our way of thinking as well. It may be hard to do...painful even...but the good news is that we aren't left alone to make that shift by ourselves. In Acts 19, there were 12 men who experienced this change in their lives. And in our church family, we have lots of folks that we can lean on when a shift needs to take place for us.

Let me encourage you today to look for the areas where you need to adjust your attitude, thinking or behavior. Ask for help from a brother or sister if you need it. And welcome the change. Who knows how God will use that in your life going forward?

- Holly Barrett