A New Self

Scripture – Colossians 3:9-11: ⁹Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices ¹⁰and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. ¹¹Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

Observation – (Write down what you see in the scripture.) At the heart of Christian experience there is “the new self.” Christ has not just improved my old life. He’s given me a new one – a new self – a new identity. And this new self is renewed on a regular basis. So for me, a big part of my journey has been letting go of my old self and , in some cases, literally taking it off by conscious choice. There’s a lot that’s gone. There are still bits and pieces I hang onto. At the same time, by God’s grace and power, the new self is the bigger part of who I am.

Application – (Write how you will be different today because of what you have just read.) I’ll live as the new person Christ has created me to be. I’ll avoid getting cocky about that. There are still enough pieces of the old to cause me trouble. I’ll just be intentional about seeing the new.

Prayer – (Write out a brief prayer.) Lord Jesus, you have, indeed, created a new person in me. I thank you for that. Continue to help me take off the old stuff – the stuff that holds me back. Continue leading me in this new life. Thank you for your grace and love. Thank you for the life I have today.