Walk in Newness of Life

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.” — 2 Corinthians 5:17

God paid a HIGH price for your freedom. Let that truth sink in for a moment.

You were not purchased with something temporary or insignificant. Jesus gave His life so that you could walk out of the chains of sin, shame, fear, condemnation, and the lies that have tried to convince you that you are anything less than who God says you are.

God wants you to live free, not bound by yesterday, not imprisoned by your mistakes, not controlled by fear, not defined by what someone else said about you, and not held captive by the thoughts that constantly tell you that you aren't enough.

Jesus came so that we could have a new life (see John 10:10), but walking in that newness requires something from us, we have to learn to renew our minds, and sometimes that renewal doesn't happen all at once. It may happen day by day or minute by minute.

There will be moments when an old thought comes to mind discouragement, failure, anger, rejection, fear, insecurity, shame, or self-hatred. The enemy is a liar. 

Jesus Himself:

“You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

John 8:44

Satan’s strategy has not changed. If he can get you to believe a lie, he can influence the way you think, and eventually the way you live. You don't have to agree with any of his lies. You can fight the lies with truth from God’s Word.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2 

Scripture tells us to stop letting the outer world squeeze our mind and behavior into its selfish or temporary mold. We must allow an inside-out change of our spiritual heart and character. We renew our minds by shifting our thinking from human habits to God’s truth through prayer and reading the Word. By doing all these things, we gain the ability to recognize and choose what God wants, which is always good and right.

Read God's Word, praise Him when you don't feel like praising, choose obedience even when it's difficult, and most importantly, be real with God. You don't have to pretend before Him. You can bring Him the messy thoughts, the questions, the fears, the failures, and the places in your heart that still hurt. He already knows and He still loves you.

As Christians, we can lay the Foundation of Truth, brick by brick. A strong foundation isn't built overnight. It’s built day by day. There will be days when you feel strong and days when you feel like you're barely holding on, but remember, difficult days do not equal failure. It takes time to learn how to walk in the newness of life.

A Good Way to Start 

Step 1: Ask God to Guard and Direct Your Mind.

Before you allow your thoughts to run away with fear and uncertainty, invite God into your thinking. Give Him your thoughts before they become your words, your emotions, and your actions.

“Father, guard my mind today. Direct my thoughts and help me recognize what is true and reject what is not.”

Step 2: Recognize the Source of Self-Defeating Thoughts.

Not every thought that enters your mind deserves a place in your heart. When a thought tells you that you're worthless, you're alone, you'll never change, God doesn't really love you, and you're not enough, stop and think: “Is this what God says about me?” 

Fight the enemy's lies with God's truth.

Step 3: Replace Self-Focused Thinking With God-Focused Thinking.

What if I fail? What will they think of me? Why did this have to happen to me? What if everything goes wrong? There is freedom when we shift our eyes from ourselves back to God.

When our focus moves toward Him, our perspective begins to change.

Step 4: Rest in the Truth That You Are Accepted in Christ.

You don't have to spend your life trying to earn God's love by performing your way into acceptance. You don't have to become perfect before you can come to Him.

You are loved because He chose to love you. Jesus made a way for you to belong to Him.

Think about this: if an earthly father knows how to give good gifts to his children, “how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (see Matthew 7:11). Don’t keep fighting battles that Jesus has already won. Accept His love. Receive His grace and rest in it.

There Is No Fear in God's Love.

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” 1 John 4:18

What would change in your life if you truly believed that? What if you stopped running from God when you were afraid and started running to Him? What if instead of allowing fear to be the loudest voice in your mind, you became still enough to listen for God's voice?

Be still and take a breath. Quiet your heart, open His Word, and listen.

God is not trying to confuse you. He is not standing over you waiting for you to mess up. He is your Father, and He invites you into a relationship with Him.

Today, we can choose freedom and the truth in God’s Word. We can choose praise, worship, and gratitude. When we surrender our thoughts and submit to Him, we are being obedient.

You belong to God and you have been redeemed. You are loved and accepted in Christ.

You are being transformed and you can walk forward, not as the person you used to be, but as the new creation God is making you.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Lay the foundation brick by brick. Keep renewing your mind. Keep fighting the lies with truth.

Keep your eyes on Jesus and keep walking in that newness of life you have created for yourself.

Father God,

Today I come before You and I surrender my mind to You. Guard my thoughts, Lord. When fear tries to take over, remind me of Your presence. When the enemy whispers lies, give me discernment to recognize them and courage to reject them. When I begin believing that I am not enough, remind me that Jesus is enough.

Lord, help me stop carrying the weight of things You never asked me to carry. Teach me to replace lies with truth, fear with faith, anxiety with prayer, shame with grace, and self-focused thinking with eyes that are fixed on You. Renew my mind, not just once, but minute by minute.

Give me the strength to choose You again and again. When I don't understand, help me trust You. When I don't feel You, help me believe You are still near. When I feel rejected, remind me that I am accepted in Christ. When I feel unworthy, remind me of the price Jesus paid for me.

When I am afraid, remind me that Your perfect love casts out fear.

Father, help me build my foundation of truth brick by brick. Give me patience with the process. Help me understand that growth takes time and that becoming more like You is a journey.

Teach me to praise You even in the battle. Teach me to obey when obedience is hard.

Teach me to open Your Word when my emotions are loud and to be still long enough to hear Your voice. I want to walk boldly in the newness of life You have given me through Jesus.

In Jesus' precious and powerful name, Amen.

Author: Renee Kiggins

Revised: Priscilla Campbell 

Editor: Christine Platt