Being Tweakable

I am ever grateful that I am no longer the shy and timid girl that I was growing up. No longer do I avoid crowds, parties, and situations that would cause me to HAVE to interact with people. Now, I am so confident of who I am – not by just how I feel about myself, but others think that I’ve always been this way. They’re shocked to think that I was once an introvert.

There’s still a little hesitancy to walk up to people and create conversation, but then I get a grip and out comes: “Good Morning. How are you today?” Yesterday, I saw a sweet lady sitting in our coffee area by herself. I spoke up and said, “Good morning, Barbara! How are you? Are you singing: “All by myself?” She laughed and said: “Aren’t you a breath of fresh air!” We spoke a few more minutes and I was on my way! I thought: “Way to go, Girl! You brightened Barbara’s day!”

Truthfully, being confident because of Whose I am (“I can do ALL things through Christ Who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13), has provided me with many wonderful friends. I remember those words “If you want friends, you must show yourself friendly.” (Proverbs 18:24) I had to be willing to get out of my comfort zone and be willing to change. I had to become “tweak-able”! And God is STILL tweaking me daily! I sense it and, oftentimes, feel it! Ouch and oh me!

One of my favorite authors, Max Lucado, said this: “You aren’t stuck with today’s personality. You aren’t condemned to “grumpydom.” You are tweak-able! So what if you were born a bigot? You don’t have to die one. Where did we get the idea we can’t change? Where do statements come from such as, “It’s just my nature to worry,” or. . . “I’ll always be pessimistic. I’m just that way.” Or, “I have a bad temper. I can’t help the way I react.”

Would we say, “It’s just my nature to have a broken leg. I can’t do anything about it.” Of course not. If our body malfunctions, we seek help. Shouldn’t we do the same with our hearts? Can’t we seek aid for our sour attitudes? Of course, we can. With Christ’s help, we can change our hearts to have a heart like His!”

And, I add to Max’s words, if we desire to be that outgoing, optimistic, cheerful personality that others want to hang with, then, we must purpose to live outside our comfort zones. We need to be the gal or guy that we want to hang with. When we’re that gal or guy – others will gravitate to our “sunny” and even “funny” dispositions. They’ll want to hang with us because we exude the ONE Who lives BIG in us AND His personality ROCKS with joy, peace, abundance, patience, beauty, and a merry heart!

I love “The Chosen” TV series and, especially the upbeat, funny, and loving guy who plays Jesus! This “Jesus” has a great personality that people want to hang out with. This “Jesus” seems to always have the time to stop and care about the people. And, I know that our REAL Jesus Who lives big in us has that tender-hearted, even funny and upbeat personality, too! I want to be like Him, so…….

“Change my heart, oh God! Make it ever true. Change my heart, oh God! May I be like You! You are the Potter. I am the clay. Mold me and make me. This is what I pray!”