Comments on: Can a person change? http://beautyfromchaos.wordpress.com/2008/03/10/can-a-person-change/ reflections for Lent Sun, 12 Jul 2009 14:36:42 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Eamonn http://beautyfromchaos.wordpress.com/2008/03/10/can-a-person-change/#comment-158 Eamonn Wed, 12 Mar 2008 17:37:41 +0000 http://beautyfromchaos.wordpress.com/?p=77#comment-158 Don't apologise, gartenfische. Every word is spot on. Don’t apologise, gartenfische. Every word is spot on.

]]> By: gartenfische http://beautyfromchaos.wordpress.com/2008/03/10/can-a-person-change/#comment-156 gartenfische Tue, 11 Mar 2008 18:26:39 +0000 http://beautyfromchaos.wordpress.com/?p=77#comment-156 Of course we can change! Where would our hope lie, otherwise? Although I believe we cannot "lift ourselves up by the bootstraps." God changes us when we are ready and when we cooperate. My personal experience is that praying for God's will to be done, praying for God to change me, has resulted in change. I find myself less selfish, less quick to anger, more focused on God and the other, than in the past. It is not my doing! If sin were forever in the heart, then what is the point of Jesus? There would be no hope, we may as well give up. Also, I've been reading Ruth Burrow's Ascent to Love and she makes the point clearly, and it makes sense, that personality defects are not "an obstacle to union with God." So, bad habits, compulsive and addictive patterns of behavior---which can be seen as personality defects---do not keep us from God in the long run (though they may provide temporary stumbling blocks). I'm sorry this is so long. . . . Of course we can change! Where would our hope lie, otherwise? Although I believe we cannot “lift ourselves up by the bootstraps.” God changes us when we are ready and when we cooperate.

My personal experience is that praying for God’s will to be done, praying for God to change me, has resulted in change. I find myself less selfish, less quick to anger, more focused on God and the other, than in the past. It is not my doing!

If sin were forever in the heart, then what is the point of Jesus? There would be no hope, we may as well give up.

Also, I’ve been reading Ruth Burrow’s Ascent to Love and she makes the point clearly, and it makes sense, that personality defects are not “an obstacle to union with God.” So, bad habits, compulsive and addictive patterns of behavior—which can be seen as personality defects—do not keep us from God in the long run (though they may provide temporary stumbling blocks).

I’m sorry this is so long. . . .

]]> By: Doug (in work) http://beautyfromchaos.wordpress.com/2008/03/10/can-a-person-change/#comment-154 Doug (in work) Mon, 10 Mar 2008 22:06:48 +0000 http://beautyfromchaos.wordpress.com/?p=77#comment-154 I believe yes, but it takes a lot to do it. Time, effort and true penetance. Then there's the correcting of mistakes. Although I think it depends what the "sin" is to be honest. I believe yes, but it takes a lot to do it. Time, effort and true penetance.
Then there’s the correcting of mistakes.

Although I think it depends what the “sin” is to be honest.

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