Dear Heavenly Father,
You tell us in Romans 12:2 (NLT), “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” You are telling us what You expect from us, and You are also telling us how to get it done. We can clearly see that there are two behaviors at play. One of them is the behaviors and attitudes that come from the culture of this world. We had them before we accepted the Lord Jesus Christ into our lives. This is called the ‘old man’ nature. It is not called this based on our age but based on spiritual transformation and awareness. It is referred to as ‘old man’ because it is the person we used to be before we knew You. Because of Jesus Christ, we are no longer this person.
In 2Corinthians 5:17(NLT), You tell us, “anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” This is the other set of behaviors and attitudes that Romans 12:2 talks about. It refers to the ‘new person’, which is a whole new way of thinking, speaking, and acting because of the internal change Christ has made available in us. Yes, we still have the same physical body after salvation, because we can look in the mirror and see the same face, arms, legs, etc. So, this verse isn’t referring to a physical transformation. It is speaking of a SPIRITUAL transformation. You are making it very clear that our core being isn’t defined by our exterior, but by our interior. Our physical bodies are our earth suits. They allow us to worship You, move about, and enjoy this earth experience, but the body was never meant to govern our lives. It is a temple that houses Your Spirit, as well as our human spirit and soul.
Our human spirit is the core of who we are. Because of Jesus Christ, our human spirits are alive to You. This happens when we confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord of our lives, and when we believe that You have raised him from the dead. Through Your Son, You have saved us from the clutches of hell. You have covered our sins with his blood, and because of this, our spirits were recreated. Before being saved, they were dead, but through Christ they are alive. Galatians 2:20 (NLT) says “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Heavenly Father, please help us to remember that we are new creations through the Lord Jesus Christ. Please open our eyes when we’re trying to reach back and grab dead things from our past. We need to let those things go. Sometimes, Father, it isn’t easy to release them. It can be very uncomfortable to do so. Change can be a little scary, but we must push past our fear. You tell us in 2Timothy 1:7 that You haven’t given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and sound mind. We are on this earth to serve, worship, and please You, and this is the most important thing in all of life.
Thank You, Heavenly Father, for making us new creations through the Lord Jesus Christ. Please continue to help us transform our minds and hearts so they are in alignment with the mind and heart of Christ. Please forgive us for our sins, for all those things we’ve said, thought, felt, and done that were contrary to Your Will and Word. Please renew in us a right spirit and create in us a clean heart as we embrace the newness You’ve provided.
Thank You for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and for the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Please let Your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“The New Creation that is YOU!”, written by K. Lizzie, edited by Reverend Fran Mack for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2019. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.