January 1 | How Much of You is New?

Timing is everything. I’ll never forget the day Jesus made me a new creation. It was November 5, 1995. I had made drugs the lord of my life to the point that I thought I needed to go to a mental ward. I was tired — empty — and tired of being both. I called my mother and asked her to take me to the hospital. She refused. “You don’t need a psychiatrist,” she said, “You need Jesus.”

Now, I had been raised in church. I knew who God was. At least I knew who she thought God was. “I don’t believe in God any more than I believe in the Easter bunny,” I told her and slammed down the phone. I needed someone who would help me. I felt like I was spiraling out of control. I remembered that my friend’s Mom was a nurse, so I called her. All she could do was tell me to, “Go check yourself in.” I was 18 years old. Eighteen year-olds don’t have the fortitude to check themselves into anything. Yet, I could not go on — not one more day.

I made the drive to my mother’s house. Something had to give. When I got there, she started preaching (she’s a very passionate Christian). Instead of being defensive or attacking her for what she was saying, I finally — began — to listen. Something pierced my spirit — something beautiful. I actually began to “hear” a way out of my misery. You see God had a plan for my life. He had an assignment for my future. It had been right in front of me all along. That day, I grabbed it. Sitting at my Mother’s kitchen table, I confessed my sins and put my trust in Jesus.

At the time, I had a female roommate. We were nothing but friends, but the atmosphere was certainly conducive for us to be more. When I showed up at home that night, with my Bible from elementary school tucked under my arm, the possibility of me living in sin went straight out the window. Humans are creatures of habit. Though I tried to resume my previous life, I found it impossible. Everything was new on the inside, so everything had to change on the outside.

I put on the rap music I'd been listening to the night before. It didn’t sound the same. I called my friends and talked about the things we always talked about. The conversations were empty. Frustrated, I went to the bathroom, randomly opened my Bible and began reading. I had turned to the book of Psalms, authored by God’s beloved, David, and started reading the verses to myself. As was unnatural for me, within minutes, I found myself reading aloud. As I did, tears streamed down my face. David’s words, his outright worship of God, became the cry of my heart.

I fell in love with God, that night, and found myself never wanting to leave His presence, ever again. My soul panted after Him as a deer pants for water (Psalm 42:1). Augustine of Hippo said, “Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.” I knew, from that day forward, I wasn’t going to be satisfied without God at the center of every part of my life.

I needed all of God, in all of me, all of the time.

Since that day I have been convinced, to my core, that God loves to answer our prayers to make us new. Please understand, I am not referring “only” to going to church or “trying” to be a better person. I am describing a total transformation — rebirth — a renovation, by the power of God, from the person you used to be. At salvation, you become a person that never existed before. All of the past is wiped clean. Sin, hurt and disappointments disappear when Jesus steps in. I want to challenge everyone reading this to have the same experience — the experience the Bible promises.

If you have never been born again and made a new creation, you can start a new life with Jesus, today (John 3:3-16). Simply have faith that Jesus is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do. Repent of your sins! If you have been born again, I exhort you to never go back to your old life. Live your new life, for God, with all of your heart, mind and soul everyday.

Reflection

Has Jesus made you a new creation?

Action

1. If you are not born again, put your trust in Jesus and repent of your sins, in prayer. Use this prayer as an example, “Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus and ask you to forgive me of all my sins. I confess Jesus is the Lord of my life. I believe He died and rose again to be my Savior. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and make me new from the inside out. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen."
2. If you are born again, examine your life to see if any of the old junk has returned. If it has, repent and ask God to renew each and every part of your life.
3. Tell somebody your story, today, about how God has changed your life. It will increase your faith, honor Him and encourage them.

One Year Reading Plan