Put on the New

My son lost his two front teeth.  He does not pull out his teeth, but allows them to dangle until falling out on their own.  

My daughter smashed her two fingers in a door frame weeks ago.  She now experiences the results of this accident, her nails falling off.  She will not let anyone touch them, but allows them to dangle until falling off on their own. 

In both cases, my children fear pulling out/off the old so the new may grow and flourish.  What are their fears?  The most obvious is pain.  They may also fear the unknown or becoming different physically.

"Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator."

(Colossians 3:9-10)

"to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:23-24)

I find myself consumed with similar fear whenever change occurs.  My daughter's case resulted from injury and my son's case from the natural growth of our bodies.  Either way, change is never easy.  We fall into the same old patterns, routines and find comfort through these stable environments.  To know what lies ahead always brings comfort.    

Guess what?  As we remain stagnate in life, not venturing out of our comfort zone, we stunt our growth.  Without leaping out in faith, our new life cannot flourish.  Without believing in Him, dying to self and rising up to follow Him, we miss out on His plan for our life.  He cannot work within us if we fear walking in faith.  What do we fear?  Pain, the unknown and being different appear at the top of the list.  

God holds great plans for each of us.  Our timing and His may not be in sync, but He is always right and knows the way you should go.  We grow closer to Him as we put on our new self (living by faith) with each situation in life.  Listen to God.  He holds all the answers.  Our minds may not agree with the changes and may cling to our old ways.  Release the old so He may change us to be more like Him.  Jesus died for us to live a new life, to seek the Truth and continually grow.

If my son allowed his old teeth to stay connected, his new teeth would not be able to shine.  The old would rot and turn black.  Don't hide your new self by allowing old ways and attitudes to rot your spirit. 

If my daughter allows her old nail to sit there, eventually the new one will push the old out of the way and come through.  This process takes much longer than simply removing the old now and making way for the new to grow.  Don't wait around when God is begging you to take off the old and put on the new.  Obey His commands, follow His Ways.  

You are being renewed each day!!!     

God thank you for today.  Bring me strength to step in faith and not revert to old fears.  Bless me each day and open my eyes to the renewal of my mind.  I love You.

Keep praying harder than the devil can work.
Sheree Craig