Refresh: Real change.

By Hayley J. Miller

Do you believe in change? I mean, beyond a quick “yes.” That one sin, bad habit, tendency you or I have — do you believe it can change? Do people really change?

We can get discouraged at times by the lack of change in ourselves or others. The truth is that most of us are actually resistant to change even though we act like we seek it. We celebrate the face of change but can get defensive when it poses a threat to us or our preferences. Christians see a life changed as something good — as long as we stay distanced from the discomforts of it ourselves.

I like change and seek it. I love to help others change and also enjoy improving programs, redecorating rooms, or celebrating diversity.

I am thankful for changes in my past. While attending the Bible Institute, it seemed that God changing me was rapid and contagious. But, “settling in,” do I now see change as an uncomfortable inconvenience not worth striving for? When the stakes are obviously high, I am desperate for change. When they are not so obvious or not so high, though, my commitment to change is relaxed.

Someone close to me once said they did not think people ever truly change. My jaw dropped and heart sunk as if I had taken a blow. I knew this is not what my Savior died and rose again for. He died so you and I can experience genuine change — not merely behavioral or cultural change, but a deep change that makes us different in substance entirely.

Miles J. Stanford describes it this way in Principles of Spiritual Growth: “As the result of the work of His cross, and as the grand issue of His resurrection, eternal life is received already by those who believe. But while that life is itself victorious, incorruptible, indestructible, the believer has to come by faith to prove it, to live by it, to learn its laws, to be conformed to it. ... The course of spiritual experience, of spiritual life, is to discover, to appropriate, and to live by all that the life represents and means.”

Or, in other words, to change.

If you know Christ, but genuine change is frustrating you right now, would you consider digging deeper? Change is not hopeless, nor should we try to make sin or character flaws beautiful or acceptable.

The source of change must be us experientially tapping into the power and resources that Christ’s death and resurrection have provided. Let’s not excuse sin in our lives, take it lightly, or give in to it. Let’s not be depressed that we are struggling with change. Don’t settle for the thoughts of “I will always be this way” or “It’s just who I am.” Christ died so you can progressively look more and more like Him — one layer at a time, one element at a time, one character flaw or sin at a time.

Change is waiting. Here are a few steps that can help you continue the practical side of this discussion and move toward genuine change:

• Read and journal Romans 6-8 (additional studying and commentary use might help)
• Check out either Principles of Spiritual Growth by Miles J. Stanford or consider The Normal Christian Life by Watchmen Nee.

Hayley’s passion is to offer clear communication that will cause genuine change. Her ministry is multifaceted, as she assists the vice president of Local Church Ministries while editing curriculum, speaking at conferences, writing, marketing, and equipping one generation to evangelize and disciple the next.

Refresh: Learning to thrive with Plan B living.

By Ray Pritchard

My wife happened to hear a fascinating comment on the radio when we were driving recently. She scribbled it down so I could look at it later.

"The key to success in life is how well you adapt to Plan B."

That simple sentence holds a world of truth. So many of us go through life frustrated because we're still working on Plan A. That's the one where everything works out, your marriage lasts forever, your children grow up without any problems, you climb to the top of the career ladder, everyone loves you and no one hates you, and all your dreams come true.

Unfortunately, Plan A rarely pans out. Life isn’t that simple or that easy. Check out Exodus 13:17-21. When the children of Israel left Egypt, God did not lead them to the Promised Land by the shorter coastal route. No doubt there was grumbling and murmuring. Why go the long way? Answer: The Philistines lived along the coast, and God wanted to spare the Israelites from having to fight them and be tempted to return to Egypt. What seemed like a detour turned out to be for their benefit. In this case, Plan B was better.

Meanwhile, people who are frustrated by the failure of Plan A are overtaken by the folks who have decided to make Plan B work instead. What’s Plan B? It’s the reality that your divorce is final, and your marriage is over. Your first career choice was a mistake, and now it’s time to start again. You don’t have the money to buy the bigger house you want. It’s the truth that you have cancer, and your future is uncertain. It’s knowing some of your children are far from the Lord. It’s the reality that your dreams aren’t going to come true, at least not in the way you expected.

What will you do now?

Here are three suggestions for those who feel a bit overwhelmed by circumstances: First, embrace change as a natural part of life. Solomon says as much when he writes, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under Heaven" (Ecclesiastes 3:1). If you live long enough, you'll eventually see it all — birth and death, war and peace, building up and tearing down, winning and losing, loving and hating. You can fight change, but you can't stop it.

Second, embrace your circumstances and make the best of them. “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10). Life is hard for all of us, but it’s much harder when we grumble because we don’t like where we are.

Finally, embrace the only Person Who never changes. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). Leaders, friends, and children come and go, and our careers take many twists and turns. But Jesus Christ never changes! Anchor your life in Him, and you can face the future without fear.

Is Plan A not working out? Don’t give up. Jesus loves to help Christians who use Plan B to serve Him.

Dr. Ray Pritchard serves as president of Keep Believing Ministries, an Internet-based community serving Christians in 225 countries. He pastored churches in Los Angeles, Dallas, and Chicago for 26 years and has written more than 25 books. He and his wife, Marlene, have been married for 39 years. They have three sons, two daughters-in-law, and four grandchildren.

Refresh: There really is a tree.

Whether you serve in ministry or have a secular job where your everyday work is a form of ministry, we can all become discouraged at some point. It could be a pastorate or mission field where it’s difficult to find anyone open to Christ. It may be a career or project that remains incomplete or just never turns out right.

Many of us, day to day, are waging the battles not only of flesh and blood but also against the pressures of time, the opinions of people, or the limits of human ability in a fallen world. We wonder how much of what we do will last or make any difference. Often, we fight competing desires, and we wonder why we have to deal with circumstances that come up rather than doing what we think will make a difference for God.

I recently heard someone share a story about a moment of doubt for J.R.R. Tolkien as he was writing his famous Lord of the Rings series. Tolkien had undertaken a monumental task, albeit with great intentions — he hoped his tale would tell the story of his God in a way that would reveal truth to many people who wouldn’t otherwise consider the message.

But Tolkien was struggling to get the work done, and as time and the bombings of Britain in World War II closed in, he fell into despair, wondering if he would finish or if all would go to waste.

Tolkien took a break in that darkness and wrote a short story about a character called Niggle. Much like Tolkien, Niggle had embarked on a project: a painting of a beautiful landscape that was taking him a long time to complete. As he got older, though, Niggle feared he wouldn’t finish the painting before he died.

Niggle had tried to be diligent, but other people had needed his help. Rather than spending his time devoted to the painting he thought had so much worth and beauty, Niggle was regularly distracted by the everyday needs of people around him. His schedule was not his own, and his days were sidetracked by giving others a hand. He ended up dying with the painting only partially finished. Of all his attempts, just one perfect, intricate leaf survived from the tree at the center of what was to be a beautiful work of art.

The worries of Niggle’s life, though, where he spent so much time concerned that his work would not be finished, vanished when he arrived in Heaven. There before him was his painting — his complete tree. The time he had spent pursuing the calls for help that God put before him had turned into eternal reality, where the picture he could only imagine on earth turned into real, forever worth.

“There really is a tree,” the person said of the many visions and hopes we all have but fear will never see completion on this earth.

There really is a tree. There really is a hope — a God Who knows our hearts and motivations. While we often labor without knowing whether our work has impact, God promises something more. This God sees fruit where we see only planted seeds. This God smiles at results where we know only fleeting conversations. This God sees trees where we have only blank canvases.

“Do not tire in doing good” (Galatians 6:9).

Or, as I tell myself instead these days: There really is a tree.

Jen Slothower, Class of 2006, is the editor of The Victory Journal. She writes for the New England Sports Network in Boston.

Refresh: Reaching the next generation for Christ.

“It is the responsibility of every generation to reach the next generation for Christ.”

Jack Wyrtzen often made this statement when he preached. Growing up in Word of Life, I always assumed ministering to young people was normal — everyone did that, didn’t they? That seemed to be part of the core DNA of any ministry: the next generation.

But as I’ve grown and become actively involved in different ministries, I can’t help but notice an absence of young people — not only sitting in our pews but also involved in life-changing discipleship in our churches. It begs the question: Have we, as believers, lost sight of this goal? Does ministering to this next generation seem like a lost cause because young people’s hearts are so hard from the world’s influence? Or, maybe, have we forgotten how to minister to them?

What does it look like to reach this next generation for Christ? Here are some specific ways we should approach today’s young people if we want to be effective in sharing truth in their everyday lives.

1. Talk to them! Don’t assume that young Christians are immune to the influence of the world.

This next generation is being exposed to adult content at a younger age than ever before, and it’s not just in public schools. This is the world in which this generation has to live, and we must prepare them to do so successfully. We can’t assume they’re OK because they seem like “good Christian kids.” We must help them by actively building relationships and talking with them about real issues. We need to put the iPhones and iPads down, get off Facebook, and interact with the next generation. This way, they won’t choose to reveal their secrets to a stranger but rather to a trusted guide.

2. Show them the difference between acceptance and approval.

There is a big difference between acceptance and approval, but so often our world confuses the two. In their minds, if you don’t approve of their choices, you’re rejecting them because their identity is wrapped up in the decisions they make. But we must teach this generation that God alone has the right to define them (Genesis 2; Ephesians 1). Acceptance and approval are very different — though we accept people because we love and care for them, we do not approve of some of their actions. When young people admit to doing something, remind them that you are there for them, you want them to be successful in life, and you accept them always. But also tell them that you cannot approve of the choices they are making because there is a difference between acceptance and approval.

3. Give them love with leadership.

No one made this point better than Jesus Christ! When dealing with the woman caught in adultery, first Jesus loved her, and then He led her (John 8:1-11). Titus 2 talks about how the older generation should protect, love, and lead this next generation by example for the sake of the Gospel. What are we doing to fulfill this?

4. Don’t give up on them.

Tenacity is key when working with this next generation. We must be more stubborn about their growth than they are about their own way. Paul encourages us in Galatians 6:9 not to give up! This next generation needs us to be persistent. We must teach them and guide them, but most importantly, we need to pray for them. We can’t afford to give up.

The young people of the next generation may seem like they’re chock full of challenges, and they are. But they aren’t without hope, because they aren’t without an older generation to teach them.

How are you reaching the next generation for Christ?

Sarah Bubar, Class of 1995, is the dean of women at the Bible Institute’s Florida campus. She recently graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Texas, where she received her masters of divinity in women’s studies. While there, Sarah and her friends started an online resource ministry called UnlockingFemininity.com and co-authored a book called Radical Dating: When God Takes Control of Your Love Life. Her passion includes discipleship and teaching the Word of God to women.

Refresh: Remembering the truth behind what we know about joy.

By Steve Nicholes

When I transferred from the Bible Institute to college, I was put in a dorm where students who decided to enroll at the last minute were housed. It was a bad scene and, to be honest, I hated my situation.

I had just come from the Bible Institute, where I was a big fish in a small pond. At the new school, hardly anybody knew me. I remember one of my Bible Institute friends coming up to me one day and saying, “Steve, I used to think you were really important....”

Every time I went into my dorm, I got depressed. That was a first for me. I was a pretty positive guy. I started asking God “Why?” The more I thought about it, the more depressed I became. It was like I was in this hole, and I was going down, and I didn’t know how to get out.

Finally, one day, in the middle of my depression, I remembered a song from when I was a little kid.

Jesus and others and you — what a wonderful way to spell ‘joy.’
Jesus and others and you in the heart of each girl and each boy.
J is for Jesus, for He has first place,
O is for others we meet face to face.
Y is for you in whatever you do,
So put yourself last and spell joy.

I knew many Scripture verses talk about this idea. “Seek first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33). “He must increase; I must decrease” (John 3:30). “Let each esteem others better than himself” (Philippians 2:3). And the greatest commands in Scripture are to (1) love God with all your heart and (2) love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39).

I believed these things were true, but I didn’t know how they would bring joy. I was desperate in my black hole, though. I prayed, “God, help me,” and He gave me the idea to get together with some other Bible Institute alumni who were at the school. One of them lived off-campus, so I asked if we could buy the stuff to make chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies and make them at his home.

After that, we took the cookies to a nursing home and began to go room to room. I took my cookies into the first room. The lady sitting there was so surprised to have a visitor. She began telling me her story. She told me that her kids never came to visit her. Over and over, she kept saying, “Thank you for taking time to come and be with me.” The next room was a similar story — and the next and the next.

By the time I stepped back onto campus, my whole mindset had changed. I had finally stopped looking at myself and had begun looking at those around me who were hurting.

The path out of my hole really was Jesus first, others second, and myself last.

If we really love Jesus and put Him first, then we can enjoy time with Him even if we are on a desert road without anyone else. Then, putting others second makes us stop focusing on ourselves. I can say that I have never again been depressed like that in my life. The new focus changed my life and my perspective.

I don’t know where this article finds you, but as I watch world news from Jeju Island in South Korea, there are so many things that can drag us down. I hope that this simple but timeless principle will help you as it did me. Lift your eyes up to the Lord first, and then look around to others who are worse off than you and lend a helping hand. I firmly believe it won’t be long before you will gain victory over whatever is trying to drag you down.

“Jesus and others and you — what a wonderful way to spell ‘joy.’”

Steve Nicholes, Class of 1981, is the director of Word of Life Northeast Asia. He now leads the campus in Jeju, South Korea, with his wife Rhonda, Class of 1985, by his side.

Refresh: Finding focus in life.

By Scott Foreman

I was recently talking with fellow alumnus and Turkey dorm-mate Scott Benson (Class of 1993-94) about what we learned at the Bible Institute. We faced so many situations then where we would scratch our heads. But now that we’re husbands and fathers and seeing our own kids grow, what Word of Life was trying to teach us makes a lot more sense.

We’re starting to understand the “why” of the Bible Institute.

Simon Sinek wrote a book called Start With Why (google his TED talk to see more). The premise of what Sinek says is simple: Your life will lack definition unless you can pin down the reasoning behind what you do. Sinek says any significant venture starts with “why?”, and once you answer that question, you can move forward confidently in an often-changing and increasingly disorganized world.

Although Sinek is writing from a secular perspective, his rationale is dead on. Starting with “why” separates a life of focus from a life of confusion. In fact, Paul wrote similar words when he spoke to young Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:10-11: “But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra — what persecutions I endured. And out of them all, the Lord delivered me.”

Paul probably wrote this because Timothy was getting ready to throw in the towel. Paul pushed his young protégé to remember the foundation of his life and ministry, telling him: When you start with why, your life takes on greater meaning and purpose.

The “why” for Paul and Timothy started with doctrine, manner of life, and mission. These were the guts of Paul’s life - the whole reason he lived. Without the truth of God, Christ’s calling in his life, and the principles by which he lived, Paul would have likely abandoned his ministry long before his first stoning, evacuation, or slap in the face. Paul’s “why” gave everything else in his life meaning.

Paul’s directions have a similar application in our lives. Consider this: The times when we are off balance usually aren’t because we don’t know what we’re supposed to be doing — it’s because we’ve made a habit of forgetting why.

Could this be one of the reasons why our attempts at being better spouses, parents, or co-workers sometimes fizzle out, because we start with a task but we don’t really understand the why or how behind it?

Take a minute to think about it: Why am I trying to be a godly husband or wife? The answer: Because that is the primary area where God has called me to show love in this world. I learn to love Him better through those closest to me, and my relationship shows my kids, friends, and neighbors what the love between Christ and the church is really all about.

Now, doesn’t that type of thinking keep life focused, regardless of shifting circumstances? Starting with “why” isn’t just good business — it’s Biblical, and it’s a key ingredient to a focused life.

Scott Foreman is the Executive Director of Word of Life Canada. He graduated from the Bible Institute in 1994 and from second year in 1996. He and his wife, Rachel, then went to Tennessee Temple University, where they received bachelors degrees. Scott was the assistant director of Word of Life Island for seven years and also managed Word of Life’s radio ministry. Scott and Rachel have four boys and love serving the Lord in Canada.

Refresh: What we deserve.

By Dr. Marshall Wicks

I was walking across campus one day and greeted one of our current students, “Hey, how are you doing?” I think we generally expect a somewhat innocuous answer to such a greeting, but the answer I got was far from that. The student answered, “Better than I deserve.” Wow! What a perfect answer to a common question. It opens so many opportunities to draw a person into a very meaningful and spiritual conversation.

So many times, we think to ourselves that life is unfair. I remember one Calvin and Hobbes strip where Calvin laments that life is never unfair in his favor.

But life is always unfair in our favor. If life were truly fair, we would all be spending eternity in Hell, and Jesus would never have come to this planet and suffered the humiliation of the cross. 

This made me think about Jesus’ Gospel presentation in the book of Matthew. We know this passage as the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew is probably the first New Testament book written and as such lays down a number of benchmarks for all ensuing Scripture. Before Matthew tells us anything else about Jesus’ ministry, he lays out for all to see a simple and “user-friendly” version of the Gospel — a Gospel for the weak in spirit, a Gospel for those who hunger, a Gospel that comes free of charge. But it is also a Gospel that changes everything about our perspective on present life. We no longer worry about the trials and tribulations that swirl about us. We now see opportunities where we once saw threats.

The dynamic that changes our worldview is faith. We are now believers. We believe that God is working out a beautiful plan of opportunity for all who accept Him. We believe that nothing can separate us from the love of God that flows to us and through us because of Jesus Christ. Or do we?

Matthew 6:25 reads: “Stop worrying about the affairs of this life.” Perhaps some of us are going through difficult times even as we read this little article. God does not ask us to stop taking actions to remedy such problems, but He does tell us to stop worrying about them.

Worry erodes faith. It causes us to look horizontally and not vertically. It is an attempt to force our will on a situation as opposed to seeing the awesome work of a gracious God unfolding before our eyes.

Matthew goes on to write: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” Worry seeks the kingdom of man and our own righteousness. It tries to justify our own version of reality and ignore the worldview set forth in Scripture. Worry is not caused by the problems we encounter; it is a condition of the heart. If our hearts are not changed, we will never have the things added unto us that are promised for those who seek the kingdom of God. 

The next time someone asks how we are doing, we need to see it as an opportunity to remind ourselves and the one who greets us that this life is a whole lot better than any of us deserve.

Refresh: Transitions.

Transitions come our way all the time. But the most important ones are those we make happen ourselves.
By Mike Calhoun

Transition is a natural part of the life cycle. I have been with Word of Life for 38 years and find myself transitioning again. We all begin the process of changing, growing and transitioning from one life stage, position, sphere of influence, circle of friendships, and personal goals to another from the time of our birth.

Your graduation from the Bible Institute was one of those transitions. Depending on the amount of time since then, you have gone through many other transitions. Some have brought joy and some pain, but they all have contributed to the formation of the person you are today. Some of life’s transitions are intentional; some appear to be accidental, while others just seem to happen naturally with the passing of time.

It could be post-graduate work, getting a bachelor’s, master’s, or even doctorate degree. You may have married and raised a family, or even reached that glorious state of being a grandparent (Betsi and I love that one).

Then there is that transition called aging, with its novel aches, pains, and unwelcome restrictions — gentle and not-so-gentle reminders of our new limitations. I am not trying to depress you; these are just some of life’s realities.

We can control some of the transitions of life, but some are just going to come into our lives uninvited, unannounced, and uncontrollable. The uninvited ones usually capture most of our attention and time. These are also the ones that tend to drain our physical, emotional, and spiritual strength.

I want to suggest, though, that instead of being jolted by the many transitions we can’t foresee or control, we put our energy into “intentional transitions.” This is not to say that we are going to be oblivious to the realities of life. It is simply that we are making a choice as to the priorities of our lives and how we will live. Here are a few concepts that will intentionally shape our lives, making them more meaningful and productive while the normal transitions are taking place.

1. Spiritual Growth. Never stop growing spiritually. Our spiritual walk with Christ should be stronger today than it was at this time last year. We need to build some intentional practices for spiritual growth into our daily lives, creating space for Quiet Time, prayer, Bible study, or Scripture memory.

I love the example of the Apostle Peter in 2 Peter 1:5-9, where we find him at the end of his life, still growing in his faith. From the world’s perspective, he had gone through many positive and negative transitions, but here we see him living life intentionally.

2. Friendships. Have you developed friendships that encourage you to move forward in your faith? We all need good friends who are godly and willing to “stir us up” about our faith walk. In 2 Peter 1:13 and 3:1, Peter speaks of stirring up his friends by reminding them of what is important. Living life intentionally includes friendships like this.

3. Personal Witnessing. We have all heard Jack Wyrtzen quoted as saying, “It is the responsibility of every generation to reach their generation with the Gospel of Christ.” That statement is timeless. It is our responsibility. We all should be doing what we can to share the good news of the Gospel. Jack often quoted Romans 1:16, reminding us that the gospel is the power of God and challenging us to intentionally share it.

4. Personal Goals. Do you still have a dream? Are you still excited about life, or have you given in to the world’s “treadmill existence” approach to life? Your life is going to keep transitioning, but while it does, you can continue to set new, intentional personal goals. Don’t accept the status quo — reach for more!

I love the spirit of Caleb in Joshua 14:11-12. Here he is in his 80s, and he is explaining to Joshua his future plans and how he is ready to fight. Oh — and by the way, he still wants that mountain!

Now that is intentional living.

Mike Calhoun, senior vice president for Word of Life Fellowship, speaks to thousands of students, leaders, and youth pastors through a diversified ministry of camps, conferences, and evangelistic events. He has a deep burden for evangelism, discipleship, and development of future leadership. Mike has written several books and produced DVDs for students and local church leaders. He makes his home in Schroon Lake, New York, with his wife, Betsi. Find more of his writing online at mikecalhoun.wol.org/blog/blog.

Refresh.

A look at our past helps us see whether it’s time for God to update our spiritual lives.

Every once in a while, when fishing around on the Internet, you’ll come across a long-forgotten website. You know what I mean — you’re looking for some information, and you don’t want to get caught using Wikipedia, so you click on the very legitimate-looking second option. And suddenly, it’s 1998.

The website usually has a solid hue for a background — some drab purple or forest green — and if its links aren’t royal blue, underlined, and in Times New Roman, centered down the middle of the page, they may be buttons along the top of the screen or down the left-hand side. The official mark of the early Internet age is probably there, too — a ticker, announcing that you are visitor No.  021,149.

These websites aren’t bad; they still work, and some still have relevant information. They were very suitable in the late 1990s, when “surfing” and “Web” still went together, when more colors and more emoticons were cool, when being on the cutting edge meant decorating your website like a kid tinsels up his childhood Christmas tree.

But as nice as the nostalgia is, we’re all pretty happy we’re past that time. We like that most of the Internet has become cleaner, more orderly, more helpful, and relevant. We can enjoy looking at these old websites, but only because we’re not there anymore.

Yearbooks, old websites, and even alumni magazines are all fun for that reason: They remind us of what we used to look like, and how we’ve changed since then. Different haircut, different job, different clothes — you probably prefer yourself today to your 1998 version, too.

For most of us, our Bible Institute year (or two) was a lot like that early Internet age. That year, we were discovering God and people in new ways, and our spiritual growth was fast-paced and flashy. We tried new things, talked about what God was doing all the time, and thought the possibilities for knowledge and learning would never end.

Once we graduated and got into the busyness and responsibilities of everyday life, though, that probably changed. We realized that the excitement and flash of growth and learning didn’t happen all the time, and that the Christian life was a lot more about God patiently changing us than it was about adding buttons and colors and tickers all the time. Growth for someone becoming a mature Christian looks very different.

Some people get scared when they run into this part of spiritual growth. They’re used to the comfort of what they know, and rather than pushing on into new questions and challenges, they work to protect what they have. Their spiritual walk looks like that old website — good for its time, sometimes helpful, but ultimately stuck in a version that’s less than what it could be.

Others, however, can look back on the former versions of themselves with a smile because they’ve been updated. They’ve committed to the tough parts of growth. Every day, week after week into months into years, they’ve been learning and growing and changing. Piece by piece, God has replaced parts of them and tweaked others as He makes them the “new man” He is shaping to be like Christ.

When you push the refresh button on these lives, you see change. Whatever has been faulty, jumbled, or outdated gets replaced with a fresh take. Day to day, the changes are small, but over time, all the little parts God is swapping in become a totally new person.

Have you ever thought about how much you’ve changed, and what those changes look like, since your Bible Institute year? Would your friends from then not see much difference in your spiritual life — or would they not be able to recognize you at all because you’ve been transformed?

Before you move on from here, take a moment to think about all that has happened since your time at Word of Life. Consider whether the growth that began that year has continued in your life. Have you changed? Can you see God’s blessing?

Have you been refreshed?