The Power of Change: What If You Could Really Change

Wisdom Scripture

1 Kings 4:29–30 (NIV)

“God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.”

Wisdom Quote

It is significant that “the fear of the Lord” brackets both of these major sections. Proverbs 9:10 reminds the reader, “The beginning of wisdom is fear of Yahweh; and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding,” whereas Proverbs 31:30 says that “a woman who fears Yahweh is to be praised.” This bracketing method shows that the entire book should be read through the lens of the “fear of the Lord.”¹

Insights: John Evans Did It

John Evans changed.

Every time he watched the news, his blood boiled. His fists clenched in frustration as he listened to politicians make decisions and statements he believed were foolish. When they went against his core values, he raged. At times, he felt like putting his fist through the wall.

Soon after watching the news, he would encounter his wife in the kitchen. The moment she heard his footsteps and saw his red face, her stomach tightened—she knew what was coming. Ranting and raving, he would loudly explain why what “they” were doing was so wrong. As usual, she said little more than, “Yes, dear,” wishing she could escape the intensity.

One day, she finally told him how much his behavior was hurting her.

John felt bad—but he didn’t know what to do differently. Politicians weren’t going to change, and their actions still made him angry. He prayed about it and tried to change. Years passed. Eventually, he told his wife, “This is just the way I am. I’m an intense, passionate person with what I believe is righteous anger.”

She began to lose hope that he would ever change.

But one year, something shifted.

John worked through the Character Change Plan—and God changed him.

He no longer boils with anger over the news. His wife, Linda, now tells people, “He is not the same man.” And it’s not just his reaction to the news—he has become a calmer, more peaceful person overall.

How did that happen? What did John do differently?

This kind of transformation is not unique to John. You can change your life, one trait at a time.

What trait do you most want—or most need—to change?

Footnotes

¹ Grant, J. A. “Wisdom and Covenant.” Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry & Writings, edited by Tremper Longman III and Peter Enns, 2008, p. 859.