Striving for Change

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2).

My daughter, there is one thing I need to tell you. You need not strive. Working hard is good. Serving Me, with your life, with your heart, thinking of others more than yourself, is good. But doing these things, truly, authentically, comes from a heart transformed, a heart surrendered, not a heart that is striving.

You cannot change yourself, although I give you the mind and the will and the motivations to take actions necessary for a person to be changed. Your will and your mind and your determination are just a piece of what it means to be changed, for good.

It is a choice, a continual choice, of surrender, of deep-hearted commitment. Love causes turning in a heart—from the doing of one thing to the change needed for another. While your mind tries to get everything figured out, with a plan and a checklist and a way to measure yourself and your improvement, I look to your heart.

The day may not go the way you want it to, not according to your plan. The plan to do this or do that may not be accomplished. The desire to be measured by standards of this world may not be fulfilled. But daughter, I don’t care about those things. I look to your heart. I care about the rich beauty held there, the depth of feeling and caring beyond yourself and your own desires, which only I can measure.

I have written you. I have created this heart of yours. I have created your mind and I know your personality, your will, the way you think about yourself, how you measure yourself, how you assess whether you rise or fall. And I have not made you to measure yourself. I have not made you to judge your worth. I have not made you to think so much about whether or not you are good or you are bad, you are successful or you have failed.

You are my girl. You are my daughter. You are the created one. You are created to point to Me, give honor to Me, worship Me. And because this is how you are made, this is what will bring you joy. This is the only thing that will end the striving, end the attempt to be a different person than whom I’ve created, so perfectly, so intently.

Trying to live your life in step with the rhythm of this world rather than the way I have made you will bring exhaustion, ultimately, to your heart. Let it sing and have room to breathe and be fulfilled! My love will fill you; it will fill your heart, if you want it to. So, put your hand upon your heart. Feel the beating rhythm I have created. It is rhythm of Home, of freedom, of rescue, of a life you were designed, by my breath, to live.