We are NEW!

Let’s talk about another way we can shine for Jesus!!

Happy New year!! Well, to me it’s like a new year. The end of summer and beginning of fall brings in a new school year for our family. New activities, new schedules, new crisp air… aren’t new beginnings wonderful?

What does new mean to you? When I think of something new I think of,

Shiny

Sparkling

Unused/untouched

Who likes to get new things, new clothes or new shoes? Me too!

Have you ever hear the saying, new year new me? Well the truth is…it’s true! And not just at the new year, but every single moment of every single day.

God is doing something wonderful in us and I think it’s time we take note.

God is all about the new! When we first come to know Him and accept Him as our savior He says…

”Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 1 Corinthians 5:17

But sometimes we don’t feel new, right? Maybe we look back and think of all the bad things we have done, or all the sin and we think there is just no way we can be new. Or sometimes we may have a rotten, no good, down in the dumps day. That doesn’t make us feel very new either. But here’s the thing, God says…

”Forget the past, don’t consider the things of old. I am doing a new thing; now it springs up, do you not see it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43: 18-19

Now when we’ve done wrong, we do need to repent. Do you know what repentance means?

It means to turn away. Turn away from sin and go the right way. We do that by acknowledging our sin, telling God we’re sorry and then not doing it again. But, sometimes we might do it again because we are human and oh so not perfect. So, we need to repent again… And as we learn and grow, there will come a time when we won’t do that sin anymore. True repentance means a change in heart and that we will do the right thing. It’s important to know that we don’t continue sinning just because it’s easy to repent. No, God knows our hearts and if we truly feel sorry. But, remember, He forgives a sorry heart…Every. Single.Time.

The cool thing is, we don’t need to look back and feel guilty because, there is no condemnation of guilt in Christ Jesus. WE ARE NEW!!

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1

And God tells us that we should

“Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians. 4:22-24

So, let’s put on our new self, just like putting on a new sweater. It really is that easy. And choose this everyday. Let’s practice this mindset. Living new, being new, thinking new!

God is doing new things in us. He’s given us new hearts.

“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel’s 36:26

And what we can do everyday is practice the new. Because the Bible says to practice it.

“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:9

Practice that mindset that we are new and can put on newness…and everyday we can put on this newness in Christ.

But, guess what? Sometimes we forget or mess up and we put the old sweater back on. Remember, all we need to do is take the old sweater off. If we sin, repent. If we make a mistake… it’s okay, we still put the new sweater back on. Practice walking and believing in the new everyday. Because we are a new creature, we have a new heart He gave to us, His newness. His mercies are new every morning.

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

So we should put a smile on our face and in our hearts because aren’t we the luckiest people in the world? Now this doesn’t change our circumstances, like hard times, but we can still smile regardless because of Him.

Blooming Challenge:

As we go about our days this new year, everyday I want you to wake up and remember you are new.

Shiny… because of what Jesus has done for you!

He makes us new.

So, let’s put on our new nature and go shine like nobody else’s business!!

Trust in the Lord

Put It On!

We are NEW!

We are NEW!

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