January 20, 2024

A decision without action is simply a good intention. And as they say, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” Yesterday I wrote about the power of one good decision. One good decision can completely alter the direction of someone’s life. But ONLY if that good decision is immediately followed with action that supports it. I can’t begin to overstate how essential this is.
How many of us have said or heard others say things such as, “I’m going to change.” “I’ve got to get help.” “This year is going to be different.” “I’m sorry, I’ll never do that again.” “I promise that I’m going to do better.” I have no doubt that when those things were said, the person saying them was sincere. There was a moment of clarity. A “mirror moment.” There was a shocking awareness of the consequences of what they had done. All of that creates a “crisis moment” in which a person realizes they are on the wrong path, and they need to choose another one. But KNOWING you need to change and taking the steps to change are two different things. Many people, probably MOST people, pause in that crisis moment. Though they SAY the right thing to their spouse or to their boss or to their friends or family, they don’t act on it. So, no change happens.
Often, those of us in relationships with such people stop pressuring them when they state their need to change. We think, “FINALLY! They’ve learned their lesson. Things will be different now.” But they’re not. Oh, the person needing to change may pretend to be different for a short bit. But soon they’re right back to the old way. Some of us have seen this pattern so many times or lived this pattern so many times, that we’ve just stopped trying or hoping. It’s not that change isn’t possible. It is. It’s just not possible without ACTION.
The key in this story is not the young man knowing he’s a mess. It’s found in our passage for today. “So, he returned home to his father.” His action showed his sincerity for change, not his intentions, his thoughts, or even his “mirror moment.” So here’s the sixty million dollar question: “What ACTION do you need to take?” Stop saying what you’re GOING to do or NEED to do or PROMISE to do. Just do it. That’s the road to real change. That’s God’s Word for you today.