HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Ephesians 4:22-24 ESV
“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds;  and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

I have read this verse I would presume a thousand times in my lifetime and every time it becomes more powerful than the last time. Putting off that old nature is not a one time occurrence, I would say for most people it should be a daily occurrence.

We think we get wiser, but we fall into the same traps. We think we get more righteous yet we still can’t measure up to the person in Christ we are supposed to be. The flesh is prone to sin, arrogance and self-serving.

The compelling request from Paul is for us to “put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” The new self takes removing the old corrupted self. Then we need a renewed mind, and a renewed mind takes a refreshed Spirit, and of course a refreshed Spirit comes with spending quality time with God, and asking and desiring for God to consume our lives in Himself.

Prayer:
Father for this new year, resolutions don’t work because they are typically born from compulsion. So, instead, remind me daily to put off the old selfish nature and put on the new nature found in Christ Jesus and walk worthy of the name of Christ!