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I used to want to change the world

20th January 2009

When I was 15 I wanted to change the world. I wanted to make a difference - to have an enduring impact. My dreams and plans for my life were all hugely ambitious and I had no interest whatsoever in living a life of mediocrity. Eleven years on (I'm ancient now, I know) my desire to be a world-changer and to make a difference is as strong as ever. But my attitude and approach have really changed.

A Middle-Eastern mystic once said: "I was a revolutionary when I was young and all my prayer was: 'Lord give me the energy to change the world.' As I approached middle age and realised that my life was half gone without my changing a single soul, I changed my prayer to: 'Lord, give me the grace to change all those who come into contact with me, just my family and friends, and I shall be satisfied.' Now that I am an old man and my days are numbered, I have begun to see how foolish I have been. My one prayer now is: 'Lord, give me the grace to change myself.' If I had prayed for this right from the start, I would not have wasted my life."

A lot of young people are keen on changing the world. I absolutely love that about you guys. You're willing to dream big, you have a 'can-do' attitude and you love scriptures like Mark 10:27 where Jesus says: 'With God all things are possible.' You want to preach to thousands like Reggie Dabbs, lead a world-changing campaign to eradicate poverty like Bono, produce famous music and be a Christian celebrity role model like Brooke Fraser or maybe you want to become famous for being merciful like Mother Teresa.

But how do you get started? You know, I was thinking - someone like Mother Teresa never set out to be famous. In fact, she might have actually been pretty annoyed that she became famous. Fame was not one of the things that motivated her. Mother Teresa focused first on becoming like Jesus. She strove to do like Jesus and treat every person like the most important person in the world.

Take Reggie Dabbs as another example. Born to an unmarried teenager who considered aborting her pregnancy, he suffered all kinds of trials growing up and quickly determined that he wanted to be a person who followed Jesus and who would be set apart for him. It was at this place of submission to Jesus - and willingness to be changed by Jesus that his story started. That's how he became the dynamic, in-your-face, seemingly super-human world-famous preacher he is today.

Howard Hendricks, in his book Teaching to Change Lives, encourages people who are seeking to bring change to write down the specific ways in which they are changing. What is changing for the better within you right now?

You want to see revival in your nation? Are you positioning yourself for revival in your own heart?

You want to see poverty eradicated? Are you living simply and giving sacrificially?

You want to be a great preacher? Are you immersing yourself in the word and sharing Jesus with the people around you?

You want to be a great worship leader? Are you striving to discover how to worship God more meaningfully in your quiet times?

These days my dreams are as big as ever. But I know that it's gotta start with me. If I want to see change - I need to be willing to change.

Want to change the world? Ask God to change your world. Ask him what he wants to do in you, make yourself available and get ready for a wild ride!!!!

That's it for this week. Bless you guys as you seek to be a generation of world-changers!

- Claire Hill