More musings from an idle mind.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
II Corinthians 5:17 NKJV
I am a new creation.
Sometimes it is hard to remember this. That “old man” is slinking about seeking to come to the surface and show himself at the least opportune times. In my unguarded moments it is like a knee jerk reaction, an automatic impulse, to go to a standby thought or even a comment.
Lately I have sought to be more intentional in my day to day walk, avoiding the temptation to fall back into those old patterns of behavior or thinking. It is so hard. Like most of us I have a lot of scars from decades of abuse and hard knocks. In my flesh I feel justified in my reactions. Such is not the case when one seeks to walk in the Spirit.
I am a new creation.
People gossiping about me: I am a new creation. Face a racial offense: I am a new creation. Seeing red flags in a relationship: I am a new creation. Old sin habits yearning for attention: I am a new creation.
I am afraid that my sense of humor is going to be the last part of me to be fully converted. I find myself laughing at things I shouldn’t and joking about subjects that should not even pass through my mind let alone my lips. It is hard to surrender to the reality that I am a new creation. I have found, though, that as I have sought to commit to a life of intercessary prayer, the inward effect is a deeper conviction. The Lord has begun to call me on the utterance from my lips and called on me to check my heart. I am reminded daily of Matthew 12:34b “for out of the mouth, the heart speaks. “ I desire that my heart reflect the heart of Jesus more than anything. I want to see people the way He does. It all starts with my heart. Often our words are the only point of contact we have with people.
I am a new creation.
Extending grace and mercy is so hard. In our flesh we want to make those who harmed us to pay for the damage done. Sadly this places us in shackles of bitterness and unforgiveness.
Letting go has been a journey for me. As the Lord has transformed me into His new creation, He has helped me to find the freedom of Grace and the ability to have mercy on those who have wronged me. God in His mercy has not given me what I deserve, how dare I not do the same.
He is making me new day by day. I admit that sometimes it is two steps forward and one step back, but God is faithful and He is relentless.
The joy comes in looking back at what He has done and looking forward to what He will do!
Behold all things have become new!
Musings from an idle mind 