When Christopher Columbus returned to Spain, he was considered a national hero and credited with discovering new lands. But do you think people changed their minds about the earth being flat? Not at all – they went right on believing the earth was flat. It wasn’t until that generation passed on and the next one took their place that people realised the earth was round, just as Columbus had claimed. That’s how long it took for people to change their minds – an entire generation! We all resist change. Dr John Maxwell wrote: ‘For many years, I thought leaders liked change and everyone else didn’t. As a visionary leader, I always felt that I was drawing reluctant followers into the future. But I finally realised that leaders don’t like change any more than followers do – unless, of course, it’s their idea!’ Let’s be honest; change is hard for everyone. Novelist Mark Twain said, ‘The only person who likes change is a wet baby.’ Truly, change is one of the greatest obstacles you’ll ever face. Why is that? After all, doesn’t progress demand change? And doesn’t growth too? We can’t move forwards and stay in the same place. So for the next few days, we’re going to talk about why we resist change so much. David acknowledged his own stubborn nature and his fear of change on four different occasions by praying, ‘Turn us again, O God.’ That’s like praying, ‘Lord, I need to change, but I’m afraid to change, so make me willing to change.’ And that’s a prayer God will answer, so start praying it today.
