9 Things I don't have time for... Those unwilling to change

One of my favorite things to do in this life is help people. I love it when God uses me to bring a piece of wisdom that changes someones life. In fact I'd drop almost anything to help someone that wants to change. If they have the desire I will do whatever is necessary to see them change and overcome.

The one thing I don't have time for is those that are unwilling to change. Every once and awhile someone will cross my path that knows all the right words to say, the emotions to show and is really only playing a game. They don't want to change, they just want to take up my time and I don't have time for it.

I love these people, pray for them and want to help them, but I don't have time for them because there are tons of others who want to change and could use my help. When I'm with someone who doesn't want change it steals from someone who does.

Make sure you are helping those who want to change. Love and pray for the ones who don't want change, but don't spend a lot of time with them. Go to those who really want change and connect them to Life.

How to tell if someone wants change:

• They ask for it - People who come to you and ask for help to change are serious, as long as the demonstrate the other points. Someone may say, "I need to talk to you," or "Will you please talk to so and so." This may or may not mean they want change. In the first few minutes of the conversation ask them simply, would you like to change? If it's a yes, move forward, if it's a no, end the conversation politely and pray for that person.
  
• They mention it - They may come to you and ask to talk, but someone who wants change will mention what they are going through and how they want to change. They will say things like. "I'm so tired of..., I can't stand it any more...," They will make statements that imply a desire to change. It's in their conversation, they mention it.
  
• They demonstrate it - People who want to change show a willingness to do so by demonstrating change in their life. This doesn't mean they will be perfect, but they make an effort to change. It is demonstrated by their actions.
  
• They pay for it - And I don't mean financially. When it gets really tough, they keep on pushing. When they feel like they can't make it they pay the price to continue. They give up things and they make decisions that cost them. Hard decisions that bring real change. People who want change pay the price of quality decisions to get change.
  

9 Things I don't have time for... Indifference

Complacency, apathy, and an I don't care attitude are all associated with indifference. Indifference means to show a lack of concern or interest or to be mediocre. Sadly I meet people every day that live their life with indifference. They are not concerned or interested in what is happening around them and as a result they live a very mediocre life.

I don't have time for this kind of attitude in my life. There are too many people who need the message I carry, the wisdom I've found and the faith that's within me for me to not care and yet it is so easy to slip into a place of indifference. It's easy to focus on myself and not really care about what's happening in other people. I don't have time for this, so to keep me passionate, interested and concerned I do the following:

1. Choose - I made a decision along time ago that I would rule my emotions and attitudes, they would not rule me, so I make a choice to be passionate and care even when I don't feel like it. I've established I don't have time for indifference, so even though I may "feel" that way I choose a different route. Every time my feelings line up with my choice eventually. QUESTION: When was the last time you made a choice to care?
   
2. Test - I constantly test and evaluate myself in this area. I'll read a story that should fire me up and evaluate my reaction to it. When I hear something that would normally stir me to action I evaluate my reaction and again make the right choice. QUESTION: Are you stirred to action by what you hear in areas that should fire you up?
   
3. Listen - There is a difference between hearing and listening. Hearing is what we do to receive information. Listening is what we do receive concern people. When we listen we hear peoples heart and begin to really care about their situations. I don't have concern information, I have concern for people. That's why I stop my mind, phone, eyes, and thoughts so I don't hear, but I listen. QUESTION: When was the last time you really stopped and listened?
   
4. Serve - The greatest way to squash indifference I've found is to take action. Every time I don't feel concern, I stop, examine a need that will bring concern, and I meet that need. When I don't feel like it the most is when I serve the hardest. Something happens when you metaphorically pick up a towel and wash someone's feet. You can't do that without caring. Serving when done out a heart to care will produce concern and kill indifference. QUESTION: Who was the last person you served?

Life is too short and there are too many broken people that need our concern, care and compassion. I don't have time for indifference and neither should you!

9 Things I don't have time for...

Time is an interesting thing. We spend most of our lives trying to speed it up, slow it down, relive it, fast forward through it, create more of it, fill it and empty it, but one thing remains the same we cannot do any of these things. Time is the only thing we cannot create more of and because of that we have to ask ourselves some questions.

As we go through this life the question is not will my time be full, but what and/or whom will fill my time?

Ask yourself What/whom will fill my time? Below is a list of things I don't have time for which I will expand upon further this week.

I don't have time for...

1. Indifference
2. Prejudice
3. Those unwilling to change
4. Insecurity
5. Prayer
6. Distraction
   
7. Sin
8. Fear
9. Uncontrolled emotions