I Am New
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17
Have you ever wished you could erase something from your past? Maybe it was something cruel you said, a moment of weakness, or years of addiction. We all have regrets, but sometimes we hold onto those moments and let them define us. We are so ashamed of the past, it can be hard to accept grace in the present.
My freshman year of college was rough. Not because of my classes, but because of my choices. I recently looked back at my transcript and knew exactly why my grades suffered early on. I chose to party more than study. But my grades weren’t what upset me, it was the memory of the person I once was.
When guilt and shame bombard my thoughts, I remind myself that today’s verse tells me I’m not who I once was. In Christ that rebel girl is gone and this purified woman stands strong. Because He changed my story by His grace, I can reach out and encourage others to embrace their new identity as well.
God wants to rewrite your life-story. He wants to redeem your hurts and smooth forgiveness over your shame. If you accept Jesus as your Savior, your past has no hold over you. You are made new. So don’t look back anymore except to pull others forward into grace with you.
Andrea Chatelain’s mission is to meet women in their struggles and love them forward with God’s truth. She's part of the Wholly Loved Ministries team, is a Midwest mom of three, faith and family writer, and college English instructor to immigrants and refugees. It’s her joy to lead Bible studies in her neighborhood, church, and community because she believes Jesus transforms lives when His people boldly seek Him. Her writing reflects her love for Jesus and heart for fellow believers. Connect with Andrea more online at Glory-Be.org.
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Originally published Monday, 06 January 2020.
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