Ephesians 4:22-23:
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 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.
Life Application Study Bible Commentary on Ephesians 4:22–24:
"Our old way of life before we believed in Christ is completely in the past. We should put it behind us like old clothes to be thrown away. This is both a once-for-all decision when we decide to accept Christ’s gift of salvation (Ephesians 2:8–10) and also as a daily conscious commitment. We are not to be driven by desire and impulse. We must put on the new role, head in the new direction, and have the new way of thinking that the Holy Spirit gives."
BarbSpeak:
As I read that, sometimes I heave a big sigh. Put Off! Put On! Must! Oh my! I don’t do ‘should’ and ‘commands’ so well. I need help. The more I try to do these things that are commanded, the worse I get. The harder I try, the behinder I get as the saying goes.
So what gives? It seems like every time I read, I find something else needing improvement. Not only improvement is needed, but sometimes, throw away and start all over is required. Here we go again. Submission. Always Submission. My ideas about being a woman, a wife, a daughter, a sister, and a friend are so messed up. I can’t begin to tell you the miss cues, the outright meanness and horrible thoughts that I am capable of. Far from perfect, these messages sometimes make me wonder if I will ever get it.
Gratefully I do not do this alone. I have a wonderful support system around me. Friends who love Jesus, family who love me anyway. I know I am blessed.
Why is it so hard to put off those old ways? Maybe because they are so comfortable. I am so used to my old stuff. Even after being a Christian for 32 years the old wants to creep up. Someone told me once that it was like a spider, who, after you squish it gives a little jerk now and then. It is dead, but keeps on kicking. Just like a chicken with its head cut off runs around, the old parts of me want to carry me into places I don’t want to go.
The answer is always Jesus. Jesus loves. Jesus cares. Jesus understands. He enables me. He guides me. He helps me see with His eyes. He chose me. He gives me His Spirit and surrounds me with His angels. He is my hope. He is my strength. He is my deliverance. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He is the Answer. The only answer I need, and I surround myself with those who understand that when times are tough. I am grateful. I am loved. I am a daughter of the King.
The old ways are not becoming to a daughter of the King. In my new role as princess, I need to walk with my King, not for Him. I need to lean up against Him and breathe and feel His heartbeat. He reigns forever and holds me together and come whatever He loves me.
I choose the new life every moment, and when I slip, I hang on for dear life. He holds me, loves me, carries me and cares for me. I am never alone and He is never too busy. As I press into Him I know that I am able to do all things through Him who cares for me.
Philippians 4:13, the Message: “Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.”
Thank You Jesus, thank you, body of Christ. Thank you friends. Thank you for loving the imperfect me. I am in awe.
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 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.
Life Application Study Bible Commentary on Ephesians 4:22–24:
"Our old way of life before we believed in Christ is completely in the past. We should put it behind us like old clothes to be thrown away. This is both a once-for-all decision when we decide to accept Christ’s gift of salvation (Ephesians 2:8–10) and also as a daily conscious commitment. We are not to be driven by desire and impulse. We must put on the new role, head in the new direction, and have the new way of thinking that the Holy Spirit gives."
BarbSpeak:
As I read that, sometimes I heave a big sigh. Put Off! Put On! Must! Oh my! I don’t do ‘should’ and ‘commands’ so well. I need help. The more I try to do these things that are commanded, the worse I get. The harder I try, the behinder I get as the saying goes.
So what gives? It seems like every time I read, I find something else needing improvement. Not only improvement is needed, but sometimes, throw away and start all over is required. Here we go again. Submission. Always Submission. My ideas about being a woman, a wife, a daughter, a sister, and a friend are so messed up. I can’t begin to tell you the miss cues, the outright meanness and horrible thoughts that I am capable of. Far from perfect, these messages sometimes make me wonder if I will ever get it.
Gratefully I do not do this alone. I have a wonderful support system around me. Friends who love Jesus, family who love me anyway. I know I am blessed.
Why is it so hard to put off those old ways? Maybe because they are so comfortable. I am so used to my old stuff. Even after being a Christian for 32 years the old wants to creep up. Someone told me once that it was like a spider, who, after you squish it gives a little jerk now and then. It is dead, but keeps on kicking. Just like a chicken with its head cut off runs around, the old parts of me want to carry me into places I don’t want to go.
The answer is always Jesus. Jesus loves. Jesus cares. Jesus understands. He enables me. He guides me. He helps me see with His eyes. He chose me. He gives me His Spirit and surrounds me with His angels. He is my hope. He is my strength. He is my deliverance. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He is the Answer. The only answer I need, and I surround myself with those who understand that when times are tough. I am grateful. I am loved. I am a daughter of the King.
The old ways are not becoming to a daughter of the King. In my new role as princess, I need to walk with my King, not for Him. I need to lean up against Him and breathe and feel His heartbeat. He reigns forever and holds me together and come whatever He loves me.
I choose the new life every moment, and when I slip, I hang on for dear life. He holds me, loves me, carries me and cares for me. I am never alone and He is never too busy. As I press into Him I know that I am able to do all things through Him who cares for me.
Philippians 4:13, the Message: “Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.”
Thank You Jesus, thank you, body of Christ. Thank you friends. Thank you for loving the imperfect me. I am in awe.