It’s hard to be a Christian every moment of every day. You try — but coming out of a job that doesn’t always lend itself to the easiest or least stressful situations, it’s always good to pause. As I travel down this journey with my newfound outreach and ministry, I try to be the best Christian I can at home, at work, and wherever I go. But my old self occasionally shows up, and I forget who God has made me to be.
I know some of you have known me for years — from school, from work. I even had a guy who used to work with me tell me he thought I was an a-hole back then, and that he was happy I found my way, of sorts. I never saw myself that way, but I’m sure I was. My mom’s ringtone for me was “Born to Be Wild,” so I’m guessing that was appropriate.
The truth is, God has been beside me most of my life. I’ve been a Christian since Young Life back in high school, and I was baptized in my early thirties. So even in the “Born to Be Wild” years, He was there — walking with me, waiting on me. The wild and the faith lived side by side for a long time. Saying yes to Him each morning is really just me catching up to where He’s been all along.
So no matter where you are or where you’ve been, God is waiting for you — just to say yes to Him each morning as you get your day going. And He will guide you, if you let Him.
Scripture
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” — 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
How I Understand This Scripture
The way I read this, Paul isn’t saying the old you disappears the second you say yes to God. He’s saying that in Christ, you’ve been made new — that’s the truth of who you now are. But the old self doesn’t always get the memo. It still knocks on the door. The verse reminds me that when my old self shows up, it’s the visitor now, not the resident. The new creation is who I really am; the old is just a habit trying to hang around.
Reflection
That’s the part I have to remember — usually right in the middle of a stressful day when patience is thin. The old Chris was quick, sharp, maybe an a-hole like that guy said. God didn’t erase that history; He redeemed it. And every morning I get to choose again which version walks out the door with me. Saying yes to God isn’t a one-time thing. It’s a daily thing, sometimes an hourly thing. The good news is He’s patient enough to keep offering.
Prayer
Father, thank You for making me new, even when my old self forgets. Meet me each morning before the day gets loud, and help me say yes to You before I say anything else. When the pressure comes, remind me who You’ve made me to be. Guide my words, my patience, and my heart wherever I go today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Join me on this journey at www.christaff.net — I’d love to have you walk alongside.
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