Real Change Requires Faith

by Rick Warren — December 10, 2022
From Building Character

“Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes.”

Ephesians 3:20 (TLB)

For the last few days we’ve looked together at how to achieve real change in your life. Real change requires knowing God’s truth, cleaning your spiritual house, and honest community. And, like anything to do with spiritual growth, real change requires faith.

In other words, you have to believe that you can change, with God’s help.

How does God help you to change? There are two primary ways. He can transform you by his Spirit living in you and with his Word, the Bible.

Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes” (TLB).

What is the biggest thing you want to change in your life? No matter how big it is, it’s not too big for God.

Maybe you’ve tried and failed to make the change on your own. That’s because you never were meant to change alone. You change with God’s power. And how do you get God’s power? Through faith. God supplies his power in response to your faith in him.

Philippians 4:13 is a familiar verse, but the Amplified Bible says it in a way you may not have heard before: “I can do all things [which he has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything . . . through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]”

With the power of Jesus Christ, you can do anything God has called you to do. His power was infused in you when you became his follower.

If you want to change, then you need a can-do attitude—not a big ego about what you can do but a big faith in what God is able to accomplish in and through you.

Jesus said in Matthew 9:29, “According to your faith let it be done to you” (NIV).

You get to choose how much you change. You get to choose how much God blesses your life. You get to believe in faith that God can help you make the hard changes.

Talk It Over

  • When you try to make changes in your life, do you depend more on your power or God’s power in you? What has been the result?
  • Why do you think God wants you to choose how much you change?
  • How does it make you feel to remember that, with the power of Jesus Christ, you can do anything God has called you to do?

If you haven’t trusted in Jesus and committed to following him, why wait any longer?

You don’t have to earn God’s love or work your way into heaven. The Bible says, “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV).

If you’re ready to commit your life to God, then pray this prayer:

“Dear Jesus, you have promised that if I believe in you, everything I’ve ever done wrong will be forgiven, I will learn the purpose of my life, and you will accept me into your eternal home in heaven one day.

“I confess my sin, and I believe you are my Savior. I trust you when you say salvation comes by grace, through faith, and not by anything I do. I receive you into my life as my Lord. I choose to depend on your power through the Holy Spirit to accomplish my purpose and do the things you have called me to do.

“I want to use the rest of my life to serve you instead of serving myself. I commit my life to you and ask you to save me and accept me into your family. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email me at [email protected] and let me know about it. I’d like to send you some free materials to help you start your journey with Jesus.


Give hope, prayer, and encouragement below. Post a comment & talk about it.