All of us would like a better life. And all of us are afraid of the changes necessary to make life better. Change is a threatening concept until we realize that change can be a friend and needn't be an enemy.

So many of us have shrunk from change simply from fear of the unknown. We have become comfortable with things as they are, not because they satisfy but because new horizons could mean new responsibilities and we're not sure that we are ready for such a challenge. We watch others grow and enjoy the results of their growing and wish that we had the courage to change.

My sister taught me to ride a bike. She ran alongside with one hand on the handlebars and one on the seat, while I pumped and wobbled. When she let go I fell, skinning one knee. It was somewhat frightening, quite embarrassing, and very unpleasant. Though I had lusted for a bike forever, I suddenly wished that my father had never invested in this cursed contraption. I was totally intimidated. But I tried again. And failed again. And kept trying. I discovered that the world didn't end with any of my failures. Everyone else had learned to ride a bike...Why couldn't I? Since there seemed to be no way to beat a dignified retreat, I persevered until I succeeded. When for the first time, I managed to ride for ten feet I marveled at how easy it was to ride a bike and keep one's balance. Why had something so easy appeared so hard?

I learned to swim one day with just as much fright, embarrassment, and unpleasantness as I had when learning to ride the bike. But I was glad that I had learned to ride the bike. Conquering fear once made conquering fear the second time a little easier. Life can change for the better! Sometimes it does, almost automatically, without any help from us. Health improves sometimes even though we have done nothing consciously to improve it. We might get the raise we didn't ask for...even the promotion. A new friend comes our way when we weren't seeking a new friendship. But much of the improvement in the quality of our lives comes when we have made a conscious effort to bring it about.

Most of us, by taking thought, can master a minor challenge to our creativity--a minor threat to our security--even when major challenges loom far too threatening. And herein lies our hope for greater happiness. We can form the habit of attempting small things and before long the large things will seem less large. For years I have urged people to set realistic goals, to push back the horizons of life gently at the beginning. Conquer the weakest enemies first, so to speak. A man who has not exercised in years should not attempt fifty pushups the first day. Perhaps he should start with five and work gradually toward fifty. Shy people should begin to overcome shyness by speaking to one new person a day, not ten.

But the greatest challenge of all is spiritual change. Spiritual change can only be accomplished spiritually. It is not something that can be accomplished in the energy of the flesh. This fact, that spiritual change cannot be realized by ordinary means, makes it intimidating. Many believers settle for morality rather than attempt spirituality. Spirituality means "other-worldly" ---difficult to attain, and frankly unattractive. Since morality is almost always confused with spirituality in the average gathering, it is an easy trap into which to fall and a comfortable one in which to remain.

But spirituality is a sphere in which meaningful change can be permanently experienced. Morality is man meeting a set of standards that he himself has accepted. The moralist does not need God. Spirituality is life divinely originated and lived in dependence on the indwelling Spirit. When the believer "walks in the spirit," or in his new nature, he is operating on power provided by the Holy Spirit within him. The Holy Spirit releases His power through the dynamic of the Scripture. The Spirit of God, the new nature and the word of God form an unbeatable combination. This triad cannot lose, but always wins! Living in dependence on Christ within produces integrity. Integrity produces morality, though integrity is infinitely greater than morality. Integrity cannot be feigned, morality can. One may have morality without integrity, but one may not have integrity without morality.

The spiritual life of the believer, like salvation, is totally a work of God for us and never our work for Him. This is the good news! Once we learn to depend on Him strengthening us from within by means of the power of His Work, things happen that could not happen when we were operating in our own strength. God begins to do regularly what had previously been impossible. Even our capacity (that which we can do through ability and without help from God) is greatly enhanced. But more importantly, things that are impossible to the flesh are brought within our reach.

Eternal life cannot be lived by those who do not have it. And eternal life was given to us to be lived...not only when we get to Heaven, but this side of Heaven as well.

Change is not just tolerable but very desirable when it is from bad to good, from good to better, or from better to best. It is most desirable when it is change to the will of God from the will of man. Our Lord prayed, "Not my will, but Thine be done." This should be the daily, even hourly prayer of each member of His Body. God's will is not a frightening place to be avoided--but a haven to be sought and prized. "Be ye transfigured by the renewing of your mind."