A New You
“Therefore,
if anyone is in Christ, he [she] is a new creation. The old has passed away;
behold, the new has come.”--2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
Spring is usually known as a time of renewal, rebirth, and new beginnings. People get into the habit of undergoing transformations in their homes and lives with the simple act of spring cleaning. Out with the old, in with the new! It is a time to put away anything that reflects the past season to prepare for what is to come. In our spiritual lives, we are expected to do a little “spring cleaning” that will purge our lives of what may hinder growth in our faith journey. We are expected to clothe ourselves with a new understanding of who we are in Christ, and therefore, no longer operate in our old ways of thinking.
Even as a seasoned Christian, we have to be mindful that our speech, actions, and decisions should reflect the nature of Christ. This means not allowing ourselves to do, say, or model any type of behavior that may hinder our ability to witness to non-believers or cause a fellow Christian to stumble in his/her faith journey.
Being a new creation also means changing the way you think about yourself. If Christ can overlook all of your flaws and love you, you have to learn to feel the same about yourself. So put a stop to all of the negative comments about yourself, openly expressing your feelings of inadequacies, and comparing yourself to others. Because Christ lives in you, you can do so much more than you ever thought you could.
Think of it like this—when you place limits on yourself, you are actually limiting what God can do in you and through you. Start speaking the Scriptures over yourself by stating that “You are more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ” (Romans 8:37), “You are the head and not the tail” (Deuteronomy 28:13), and “You are the apple of God’s eye” (Psalm 17:8). When you start to believe what God says about you and how God’s sees you, life’s mirror will reveal a new you!