Mag-iba kayo sa pamamagitan ng pagbabago ng inyong pag-iisip upang maunawaan ninyo ang kalooban ng Diyos; kung ano ang mabuti, kalugud-lugod at ganap na kalooban niya.

Mga Taga-Roma 12:2b

Many years ago, there was a song about a person na gustong bumait pero hindi niya ito magawa. Nakakarelate ka ba? Mahirap talagang maging mabait dahil wala tayong kakayahan na gawin ito by our own efforts. 

Shirley remembered the time nung bata pa siya na mahilig siyang mangupit at magsinungaling sa parents niya. In college, while studying at a Bible school, nangupit siya sa daddy niya ng napakalaking halaga. It was her father’s travel allowance, which needed liquidation. The night before he left, he found out na kulang yung pera niya, and he asked her about it.

The conviction of the Holy Spirit was too strong. She had long wanted to surrender this particular sin to the Lord. Pero dahil sa sariling sikap lang niya iyon ginagawa, she always failed. That time sinabi sa kanya ng Panginoon na aminin sa tatay niya ang ginawa at humingi ng kapatawaran. The Lord gave her the strength to face her father who forgave her. After that day, hindi na niya ginawa ang mga bagay na ihiningi na niya ng kapatawaran. She was finally set free from the lying and the stealing.

When God created us He gave us free will. The problem is we don’t always choose to do what is right. Once we decide na isuko sa Diyos ang mga bagay na nag-hinder sa atin na maging katanggap-tanggap sa harap Niya, doon lang natin makikita ang transformation sa ating buhay. Lagi nating isaisip ang Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Hindi lang ito tungkol sa pangangailangang materyal at pisikal kung hindi pati na rin sa espiritwal. We can trust the Lord to continually renew our minds.