The New

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone, a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

Sister, Sister!

Wow!!! Here it is.... a new year. JANUARY!... the mark of a new beginning, fresh start, new opportunity. Celebrating and marking the New Year is how we measure our life in quantitative years. It's something about the word "New" that brings excitement and hope. "The New" causes us to forget the old, slightly pushing it to the side until it becomes a distant memory.  Think about it! Do you remember what you were doing on July 19th of last year? Sister, you are fierce if you have that type of memory.  LOL However, there's nothing that can be done about the days of old but learn and allow God to use them as building blocks in our lives. What we do have is "the New".  Each day is new!. It is an opportunity with new possibilities to accomplish the Will of God for your life for that day. Each day holds in it a chance to be and to walk as a new person in Christ. If you are born again, the old person(old life) is long gone and the new person(new life in Christ) has the opportunity each day to walk in the ways of Christ without any of yesterday's faults lingering over you. Now don't be mistaken. We do need to have a repentant heart   about the previous day's behavior and thoughts but we can walk in the liberty of experiencing the forgiving grace of Our LOrd Jesus Christ. We wake up with "the New" ( new mercy, new opportunity, new outlook, new direction, new song/ melody in our heart, new potential, new grace). We have the opportunity to start brand new each day as we look forward and press toward God. 

Who would not want the New? A new life is what Christ offers us. The old life is filled with so many mistakes and shameful deeds of pride and arrogance. When comparing the two , it appears to be obvious which life is beneficial. The month of January and its newness last a moment but the newness Christ offers you lasts for Eternity. You might not dust off your exercise bike or stop eating after 6pm this month but Sister, I appeal to you to walk in the newness of Christ.  Maybe you never committed your life to Jesus and repented of your sins. Maybe the new life that we are speaking about hasn't come for you yet. But it's available. You can start your new life right now. No more guilt or shame or separation from God.  If you see the error of your ways and see your sinful state for what it is... needing forgiveness, needing a Savior, it's your time to be made new... to be made whole.  Romans 10:9-10 says If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing  in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith you are saved. (NLT)

If your heart feels convicted and you believe in Christ's death and resurrection, God's saving grace is already working in you. Take the time to personally talk to the Lord and pour out to Jesus with a heart of repentance and a verbal confession. If you truly mean it then your new life has begun. Today... At this moment you are made "NEW". 

Well Sister, you may already be new and your old life a distant memory. You might need to hit the Refresh or Renew button concerning your commitment to Christ. You are one heart-felt prayer away from starting anew. It's still "New". Philippians 3:13 is where it's a good thing to have a bad memory. Here you are encouraged to forget your past, live holy and reach for the newness found in Jesus Christ. The new mark, the new goal, the prize in life is to know Him and to serve Him. Wherever you may be at this time in your life Sister, the greatest place or position you could ever be is in "the New"... the new creation that you have become by living in Christ Jesus.

Prayer Focus:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for being the all-knowing, merciful God.  Thank you for Your Grace that I experience daily. Thank you for forgiving me and redeeming me. Help me to walk in the newness of life each day as I abide in your Son, My Lord Jesus. Thank you for dying and resurrecting for me. 

In Jesus' Name
Amen

Application Exercise

Sister, let's practice "The New". I would like you to write down all the different ways you are living a new life since receiving Jesus Christ as your Savior. For example: Write down.... " I speak differently( I no longer curse or swear). Then beside it write down a situation that might have happened recently that you didn't respond with foul language like the old man.

Write down as many ways you can recall that you no longer walk in. As you look back from where you have come you will see that the old man has become a distant memory and a fading existence. Great job my Sister! Continue to walk in the newness of life as you continue to live in Jesus Christ..

The Team of Push Pause & Pray