Originally published Monday, 26 May 2014.
www.insideoutwithcourtnaye.org
The first part of this title is actually my slogan for Inside Out. In a nutshell, both parts represent “change.” Now, I know change is not always easy. Yet, in reality, the results can be pretty awesome when we allow God to do it within us. And that’s what this post is all about. It’s about getting rid of the old you (or old wineskins) and allowing God to change you from the inside out.
Personally, I don’t drink. But the point is good! Check it out. In Matthew 9:14-17, Jesus is defending his disciples when he is questioned about fasting, but it goes even deeper regarding putting new wine into old wineskins, (which is a bottle). Follow me. Here is what Jesus says in verse 17, “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. The old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine must be stored in new wineskins. That way both the wine and the wineskins are preserved.”
It’s the same way with true Christianity. You can’t mix light with darkness. It just won’t fit! Once we get saved, we can’t keep living the same way we used to live before we got saved. That was a life of sin and darkness. After we accept Christ, we’re supposed to be new! Second Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” So you see! We’re no longer the old person that we used to be. This means that our lives should represent change, because we’ve started afresh. It’s a new beginning! Like new wine in new wineskins!
The problem in Jesus’ day was that some people resisted change. The Pharisees really gave Him a hard time. Jesus came to fulfill the law, but they couldn’t see that. He was the walking Word…the promised Messiah. Yet, they couldn’t receive the new blessing that God was sending through His Son Jesus Christ. That would mean that they would have to empty themselves and get rid of their old way of thinking. Instead, many of them chose to hold onto their traditions, philosophies, and opinions, and as an end result, they missed their blessing.
We too, have to be very careful with this kind of stuff even today. That’s why it’s so important to have a healthy dose of studying God’s word and applying it to our lives; so that we won’t be deceived in this last hour by the traditions of men and empty philosophy. Warning! Let’s not be like the religious Pharisees who resisted change and missed their very blessing, because they wouldn’t receive the Word in action.
Listen. As you journey through this life, you’ll see even more that sometimes you have to get rid of the old, to experience the new. I had to do this in my past relationships, before I met my husband. In order to get God’s best, I had to let go of what was not good for me. And I am so glad that I did! I’m now equally yoked, and have been for nearly 14 years. Praise God!
Trust me. That would’ve never happened, if I’d held onto the old stuff that wasn’t good for me. I had to renew my mind, empty myself before the Lord, and surrender all to allow Him to have His way in my life and do what was best for me in the long run. Thank God I did. But it took letting go and an inward change from the heart that brought forth the blessing.
So, is there anything that you need to get rid of today? Are there some old habits, traditions, philosophies, bad attitudes, ungodly friendships or relationships that you need to trade in for some new good ones? If so, then press into God’s presence and do what’s right in His sight with the help of the Holy Spirit. He will guide you into all truth. Just don’t hold back.
As I prepare to close this post, keep in mind that you can’t mix the good with the bad, dark with light or new wine in old wineskins. If you’re too full of yourself, there’s no room for God to fill you with His goodness. You can’t move forward if something’s holding you back. And you can’t fulfill all that God has for you if you’re not allowing continual change to take place in your life. So pray and ask God to help you to get rid of the stuff that’s weighing you down or hindering your progress and blessings, and become the woman He has predestined you to be. Hebrews 12:1-2 beckons, “…let us strip off the weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish.” (NLT)
Seek His face and follow His course, sis. And while you’re at it, don’t resist change. Remember change is good in the long run. So let the Holy Spirit help you shed off that old stuff. When He shows you what it is, do it. And I believe that as you grow in this area by allowing God to change your heart, mind, will, and emotions through prayer, confession, His word, and good teachings, you will experience the deliverance and promised blessings that you’ve been waiting for! Love ya!
Remember, Jesus is coming back soon! And those who endure unto the end shall be saved. So let’s be ready from the Inside Out!
~Courtnaye
*Thanks for reading! I hope and pray that you’ve been enlightened from this post. Feel absolutely free to leave a comment or for questions you can email me directly at insideoutwithcourtnaye@gmail.com, and I will respond promptly. Also, tune in every Monday at 7:30am for new posts! Don’t forget to “Like” my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/InsideOutWCourtnaye) and share this blog with friends, family, co-workers, or your women’s group or ministry. I’d love to stay connected and help more women grow in the Lord! Thanks again and may God be with you!
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