Yes, what does happen?

There are many simple questions that many of you may think are just semantics and not worthy of consideration ...but are results worthy? How we look at it may have much to do with our success.

Some people would say that to repent means to change our behavior, others say it's changing our direction, and our Pastor says it is changing our mind.

Why do we change?  And what kind of change is it ...and is it for the moment, or lasting??  Or is it a continual struggle?

Some temporary changes are because we are being watched, or monitored.  It can be peer pressure, or it can the sort that is effected by monitoring.   We may change our speed if a police car is observed in the distance.  We may slow down temporarily on a winter road if we see someone in the ditch, but then pick up speed again in a surprisingly short span of time.  Our supervisor may enter the room ...which may vary our actions.

We could say that none of this would affect us much if our reality would ring true ...and we'd remind ourselves that God is always watching, and He should be our motivation for consistency.

So, changing your direction, your behavior, and your mind could all be considered good things ...at times. But what should you work on first??

It depends.

Sometimes we need to do what we know is right, even if we don't feel like it.  The struggle may continue ...and it may take a while for us to overcome, but we must keep trying.

Other times, it might be best to change our mind.  It would definitely be easier.  And it also would seem to be more lasting.

But, unless we try something ...we may be on a fast track to nowhere.

Why must we do something?

Pastor Tom brought this up when he mentioned the often confused definition of sloth, one of the listed 7 deadly sins.  Not a phrase from the Bible, but one that is often thrown about ...this one is 'thrown about' the internet, listings on Wikipedia for Evagrius Ponticus, Pope Gregory I, or Dante's 'The Divine Comedy'.  Yet, it is no comedy to experience the devastation of it. Pastor also mentioned 'acedia' as another Tom referred to it ...Thomas Aquinas looked at it as 'to not caring that one does not care'.
 

Wikipedia : {Sloth is defined as spiritual or emotional apathy, neglecting what God has spoken, and being physically and emotionally inactive. Sloth can also indicate a wasting due to lack of use, concerning a person, place, thing, skill, or intangible ideal that would require maintenance, refinement, or support to continue to exist.

Religious views concerning the need for one to work to support society & further God's plan, and work also, suggest that through inactivity one invites the desire to sin. "For Satan finds some mischief still for idle hands to do." ("Against Idleness and Mischief" by Isaac Watts)

In the Philokakia, the word dejection is used instead of sloth, for the person who falls into dejection will lose interest in life.}

And we should certainly not lose interest in the life God gives us ...and how He lovingly asks us to live it, for our own benefit.