Out with the old, in with the new

Perhaps you are one of the many who resolves to make a change in life with the New Year.  As the ball drops and the calendar turns, people are able to visualize a new beginning.  They are able to walk away from the mistakes of the past or the pieces of themselves that they are unhappy with and believe for something new, something better.  Traditionally, the #1 resolution made is to lose weight.

People are motivated to lose weight for many reasons, such as health issues or a desire to look better.  These motivations are helpful, but if our thinking isn’t genuinely changed at a heart level we are always in danger of reverting back to our old behavior.  Statistically, the majority of people’s drive fizzles come February and the old self comes comfortably back, reestablishing control.  What a disappointment!

So how do we avoid this failure?  How do we change the thoughts and beliefs of our heart to inspire everlasting change?  The short answer is that we can’t.  If we approach our goals from a place of self effort, we will be forever burdened by a need for perfection and more than likely will eventually fail.  The good news is that when Christ died for us He not only purchased our eternal salvation, but He paid for deliverance from our mistakes and sinful nature right now! (Romans 8:9)

When we accept Christ as Lord and Savior, we are immediately a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).  It is a complete change that is not always tangible to our five senses, because it happens in our spirit.  We see the change when we commit our bodies to God and ask the Holy Spirit, who now dwells in us, to show us our new self through prayer and the Word of God and to help us to walk out the characteristics of that new righteousness in our souls (hearts and minds) and bodies (Romans 12:1-2, 1 Corinthians 3:16).  The work of changing our thinking and burden of transforming our hearts is then through Christ and He does not fail!  Our actions will follow the new belief in our hearts and become natural, as we walk by the Spirit.  The pieces of ourselves that we dislike will drift away and the pieces that make us special will be polished and perfected when we surrender each of them.

If you have been living an addictive life in lust for food or excessive mindless activity that involves sitting or lack of movement, repent (that word Scripturally means to change your thinking).  Surrender that piece of your old self to Him and ask Him to transform you.  Your goal of becoming slimmer will become a reality, not so you can turn heads (although that may happen), but so you can turn hearts as His glory and victory shine from you.

So, resolve not to be a better you this year but instead… to be more like Him.

“Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.” (Ephesians 4:22-24 NLT)