Out With the Old – In With the New
In reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
Ephesians 4:22-23
When we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit renews our minds to the mind of Christ, which means we become a new creation. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17). The process of becoming more Christ-like consists of replacing our old bad habits with new Godly habits. However, do we sometimes find it difficult to overcome old habits?
Overcoming our past can be difficult, especially if we have experienced trauma. For example, our past can leave us angry, fearful, depressed, untrusting, and too often leads us into addictions. But the truth is, God loves us and forgives us no matter what has happened in our lives, because God is the God of the future. He sees the powerful, loving person we will become through his power and love as He molds us to conform to His Son.
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6). All things are possible for God and if we walk in accordance to His will He will change us, healing our past and giving us a future that is free in Christ. The important thing to remember is that God changes us and it takes patience to overcome old habits.
So how do we throw out our old sinful habits? Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21). Start creating new habits by finding a church family, reading and meditating on the Word, and praying for the Lord’s guidance and help. These three are the pillars of the Christian life. Out with the old takes place when we bring in the new.
However, there are things in our pasts that can be really difficult to overcome and require special attention such as Christian counseling along with strong, loving Christian support. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective (James 5:16). Christian counseling, and the power of God through prayer, can enable us to live free in Christ with love, peace, and joy.
Today, identify anything from your past that is not pleasing to the Lord. Pray for freedom and the guidance to overcome them. Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. (1 John 5:4). The Lord enables us to overcome the world which means we can overcome our pasts – Out with the old!
Let’s Pray: Lord, help me to overcome anything in my past that is not pleasing to you. Guide me in the Spirit to do whatever your plan is for me to free me from my past. Open my mind and heart to bring the new life you have planned for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen