Change: Put off the Old, Put on the New

New Year's is an exciting time.  It brings hope. It brings dreams. It brings change.

For the most part, the change that a New Year brings can't be controlled. We don't know what the future holds for our jobs or health. We don't know if we will lose a loved one. We don't know if we will be in financial distress.  For those of us in a military family, we don't know if we will face a deployment.

There is a change, however, that we can have control over.

Colossians 3:8-10 says, "But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him."

We can, as believers, control our behavior.  When we surrendered our lives to Jesus, we were to put on the new man.  Sometimes we slip back into the old.  For whatever reason, our prayer time, Bible study time, and even church attendance may falter.  We get into ruts and habits of old.  These pull us far from our God. 

I can see it in myself. 

When I don't pray like I should, when I don't read my Bible like I should, some of the "old me" comes back.  My attitude changes back. I am a little more negative. My temper is shorter. a choice word or two may slip out. 

Sometimes I forget who I am. I am a Child of God.  I should mirror His image.  That is the change I should see in me.  When I take the focus off of Him, and put it on me (my fatigue, my wants), I don't mirror Him.  In everything I do, I should have the witness of Jesus Christ and the work He has done. No one should ever wonder what I stand for and who I kneel to. 

So, this next year, as I resolve to be a physically healthier me, I also resolve to be a spiritually healthier me.  My goal is change: to put off the old and put on the new, to be the woman God intends for me to be.

Thankful and Forgiven: Post 101 and Snow Day #8

Here it is, another snow day. Can I say that I am more thankful for today's snow day than yesterdays????

Reason 1: Carson decided to go to sleep last night at Sol Azteca. Slept the "entire" night, except to get up to go to the potty. Needless to say that because he conked out at 5:30, he was ready to go at 4AM! Today would have been our Valentine's Party at school. I don't think I would have been able to function. Even though I had lots planned to do (a test we missed yesterday and getting Caroline's class caught up with mine in science), I believe it would have turned into a movie day, probably Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Yeah, I could connect that to language arts (fiction, character, plot, setting, problem, solution, theme) and science (weather).

Reason 2: My appointment went well yesterday. Love hearing that strong heartbeat and knowing that my baby is growing well. I go back in two weeks and will be going once per week then on. The big day is getting closer and closer. I'm excited to be able to see and hold this sweet baby.

Reason 3: I am blessed to have a such a precious family. I have the most wonderful, caring husband and wonderful, loving children in the world. These guys melt my heart, make me laugh, and fill me with joy.

Reason 4: I am forgiven. Colossians 3:13 says,

Bearing with one another, and forgiving
one another, if anyone has a complaint
against another; even as Christ forgave
you, so you also must do.

You know, when I stop to think about the things that I have done to God and that He has forgiven me, I realize what a wonderful gift that is. Why then should I not forgive those who have hurt me? Lots of things have happened in my life that I could very easily show unforgiveness or bitterness. But what kind of life is that? Holding a grudge does nothing but kill your spirit.

I know people who are sure to bring up someone's wrongs and say, "I will NEVER forgive him." These people are supposed to be Christians. None of us are perfect, so why should we expect others to be?

I thank God each day for the forgiveness He has shown me. I pray that I will always be willing to show forgiveness to others.

Consider this....
What if your child did something that upset you and he asked through his tears, "Mama do you forgive me?" and you replied, "No." What would that do to your child? As parents, we want our children to know that they are loved and there is nothing they could do to change that. As an adult, I want those I know to know that I love them and there is nothing they could do to change that. So, the next time you are wronged, offer forgiveness. You and those you forgive will be sure to receive a blessing.

How is Your Prayer Life

A few days ago, I had the chance to sit down with my cousin and talk. Something we never get to do. I was humbled that she felt she could talk to me about a burden she was carrying. She was struggling with her prayer life and just felt like maybe she was going about it all wrong.

I think to a point, we all struggle with our prayer life. One of my struggles? I feel at times I don't pray enough. The Bible says to pray without ceasing. We can all find excuses on why we don't pray as often as we should. We are busy with jobs, housework, children, church, and other extra activities. But honestly, while we are busy with all of these things, we can still pray.

Pray
before getting out of bed
in the shower
while brushing your teeth
driving to work
on your break
at lunch
while waiting on your doctor
when working out
driving home
while watching your kids at practice
while preparing dinner
when going to bed

Imagine if
we all put our cell phones away while driving
we spent less time online
we spent less time watching TV
turned the radio off while doing chores
and spent that time in prayer. I think the outcome would be amazing!

Prayers don't have to be extravagant. My cousin and I talked about humbling ourselves in prayer and what that really means. Do we have to always kneel? Do we always have to hold our hands a certain way? Do we have to use big words? I don't think so.

I think that to humble ourselves in prayer means
to acknowledge who God is
to thank Him for who He is and what He has done
to ask for his guidance by admitting we can't face life alone
to admit our sin and shortcomings
to ask that His will be done, not ours
to be honest with Him

My prayers are not always the same. Some are more formal than others. It depends on the main purpose of the prayer. My prayer for someone who is going through a difficult time is going to be different than the blessing for my meal. The prayer of thanksgiving for a good doctor's appointment is different than the prayer after I'm not proud of myself for my behavior or when I'm at my wits end and don't have the words to express what I'm feeling. Sometimes I talk to God has my father. Sometimes I talk to Him as my friend.

I think sometimes people do get frustrated with praying because they feel like their prayers are not being answered. This is when we have to step back and think (honestly) about what we are praying for. We are to pray for what is in God's will, not ours. If we continuously ask Him for things that are not part of His plan, we will be disappointed. God has 3 answers to our prayers: Yes, No, and Later. If we stop and think about the things we have prayed for and not gotten, we may see that those prayers were answered differently for our benefit.

In his book, Hope for Each Day, Billy Graham writes "Prayer isn't just asking God for something we want. Prayer should also include confession of sin and praise to God for who He is and what He has done for us. But prayer should also have an additional element, and that is thanksgiving. It is easy to be thankful when God blesses us with something good. But the Bible says that we should "give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for us in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessolonians 5:18). Thankfulness drives away a sour or prideful spirit."

It would be good for us all to remember this and to reflect upon the purpose of our prayers.


Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2