7 Devotions to Help You Discover God’s Restorative Powerਨਮੂਨਾ

Goodbye to Your Old Self

"To 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 ESV

Take a moment to read Colossians 3 right now. Let its words become a part of your anthem—especially verse 10: “Put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” (Colossians 3:10 ESV) That’s right. Saying goodbye to your old self does not simply involve leaving behind old behaviors or past mistakes or an old season of life (though that is part of it). It’s also about putting on the “new self” that God has created you to be. It’s time to embrace your transformation! Ephesians 4:23 NIV says we are to be “made new in the attitude of your minds.” Has the way you view your past, your worth, and your future now been redefined? Has your mindset shifted with the knowledge that in Christ, you are loved, forgiven, accepted, and equipped for a life of purpose?

As you work through the final stages of the restoration process, you’ll notice that your thinking has been rewired to fully embrace who you are becoming. And who is that? Well, you are not the person you once were. You are a child of God, made in His image, and equipped by His Spirit to move into this next phase of life with more confidence, strength, and wisdom than you’ve ever had before.

Remember, the goal of your renewal is to become more and more like Jesus. As you put on your new self, your new identity will shine in ways it didn’t before. Have you noticed yourself becoming more compassionate, kind, humble, patient, and loving? Have you noticed that you are now quicker to forgive and slower to anger? What has changed about you? If you don’t know the answer, ask someone close to you if they’ve noticed any changes. Remember, the more you stay grounded in God’s Word, the more you will reflect His character in your life.