When I became a Christian, I never stopped to think that I had the chance to start over.
New Creations
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” – Said the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:17. But what does that mean, and how do we get there?
When we accept Christ as our Savior, this is one of the benefits. Everything from your past is forgiven, and you get a new start. Yes, you read that correctly. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done; Paul himself was a murderer of those who followed Jesus. He had a fantastic experience and went on to serve the Lord for the rest of his life, even unto martyrdom. You may be in prison for a horrible crime, have stolen, done drugs, or engaged in prostitution – it matters not to the Lord. He is waiting for you whenever you are ready.
How Long Does it Take?
Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” (NIV)
God’s forgiveness is immediate, but it doesn’t necessarily mean things will be 100 percent better overnight. There are likely changes you will need to make in your life. Some things will be easy, while other things may be a struggle. It can take time.
How to Move into a New Life
Romans 12:2 gives the best explanation of moving forward:
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
The best way to renew your mind is to align it with God’s thoughts. That is done by reading the Bible and letting the word of God sink in. You may not agree with everything at first, that’s OK. Write those verses down, set them aside, and tell the Lord it doesn’t make sense to you. He doesn’t get stressed out or angry if you disagree as long as you are willing to put it aside and let Him speak to you. God will explain it to you in due season. The first thing you need to do is work on yourself!
Don’t get yourself overwhelmed. The Bible reveals many things we need to do and stop doing. But we can’t correct everything all at once. Consider a baby. When they are born, they can’t feed themselves, hold their head up, or do much else for themselves. But over time, they build muscle, language skills, and brain development. It is the same in the spiritual realm.
Or how about a forest? After a devastating wildfire, new life will spring from the forest floor. Seeds that have been dormant for years suddenly spring to life when the overgrowth is removed, and a new forest will begin! It is the same with us.
Think about one or two things you would like to change. Find a few scripture verses that talk about those things. It is very easy to find scriptures online related to your issue. Make sure you read the entire section so you understand its context. Reading the whole chapter is even better!
Write verses on index cards and memorize them. Stick it on your bathroom mirror, put it in your car, write it in the notes section of your phone, but do something so that it begins to get into your spirit. Believe it, and then start living it.
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22 (NIV)
Until next time under the palm, be blessed!
