Can A Person Really Change?

I just went down memory lane in my head, not a good memory lane really, but back to some of the silly mistakes that I've made. I realised that a lot has changed in the past decade. The person that I was at one point has long gone, althought it took me quite some time to accept and believe it. 

There was a time in my life I didn't think a person could change. I was quite judgemental to some peoople thinking that if they've done something terrible once, they'll keep doing it and they'll never stop. I used to judge people so much. I used to think low of people who used to drink so much alcohol they would feel shady the entire next day and I used to think people that cheat once, will do it again. I didn't think for a second that a person could become a better person than they already are. And then I turned into that person. The person that drunk so much they felt sick the entire following day and the person that cheated. 

I'm sure there are many people out there that were just like me. People who have made mistakes and then due to their own silly belief that a person is who they are and they cannot change... have ended up more messed up than they needed to be. I held on to these mistakes for a few years after making them, and although they did not become constant happenings in my life, they held me back from the life I was supposed to be living. After making mistakes and not believing I could change, I decided to stop living. I shut myself in my room, not trusting myself to leave because I knew the type of person I was. For years, I did not trust myself enough to allow myself to have a drink, because 'the person that I was' wouldn't stop at just one. I did not trust myself to become friends with guys because 'the person that I was' would want more from them. I really didn't think I could change. Change was impossible!

But I was wrong. Almost 10 years later, I am now a completely changed person. I am not the kind of person who goes out and gets drunk and I am not the person that cheats at any chance she gets. But what was it that allowed this change in me? It took a while, but part of it was about trust and belief. I had to learn to trust myself and to believe that change was possible. The biggest part of the change was through Jesus. When I had finally allowed Him into my life, He did all the changing that was necessary. He helped me understand my mistakes and to move on from them, He helped me realise that I wasn't the person that I thought I was. 

So now I sit and think.... Can a person really change? YES! A person can definitely change. I think however, that for a great change to happen, and for the change to not go back, a person needs to find Jesus. Trying to change without Him can be difficult, without Him the devil still has a hold on your life and he will continue to try and bring you down. When Jesus is a part of the change, Jesus is stronger than the devil and He will give you the truth of who you are. Sometimes change can be a long process, for others, they can do it quickly, it depends how much of a hold the devil has on you, but everyone can change!

Thankful for: Joy

Apart from saying that joy is awesome what else really is there to say? I'm thankful for the joy that is in my life, for the fun and adventure, for the smiles and the laughter. It is amazing how much of a different to life,  just a little bit of joy can make.