We have a senior English bulldog, Albert.  Oftentimes we will let him into our yard using the back door.  He can turn right or left on our deck, depending on where he wants to go.  One day my husband had blocked off the right turn to do some work there. This completely rocked Albert’s world.  “What is this highly offensive blockade and what on earth is it doing in my territory?”   He was completely put off.  Keep in mind, he could have turned left, gone around, and had access to the same area, but his little bulldog brain locked up when he had to make a change.

How do we handle change?   Is it really a big deal if we have to alter the way we do something?  I recently told someone I assume that God is just keeping me from harm or directing my path.  Within a day or two, I had a car in front of me in traffic that kept causing me delays and made us miss a light we could have easily gotten through.  If I am being honest, my first thought was not that God had my best interests at heart in the moment.  Even as I was reacting, I remembered what I had just recently said and I had to repent!

The first scripture that comes to mind is Romans 12:2b (NIV) :   Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 

If we react emotionally to change instead of responding in a rational manner, we need to keep working on that renewing of the mind part.  This comes by hearing the word of God and getting it deeply on the inside of us.  

Let’s challenge ourselves to respond to the word and not react to the change!