You are made new!
This choice of turning to God alone is described in the Bible by using a number of beautiful metaphors. John 3:3 and 1 Peter 1:23 remind us that this moment of decision is likened to being ‘born again.’ In other words, the change God brings about in your life leads to a completely new reality!
Acts 26:18 says that when we give our hearts to God it is like passing from darkness to light. If you’ve ever been awake early enough to see the sunrise you’d know the power of this image! What was hidden by the darkness, and what seemed scary before in the dark, now is clearly visible.
Rejoice in these truths…
You are forgiven through the cross of Jesus (Ephesians 4:32).
You are God’s child, adopted into His family, and given a place of belonging (Romans 8:15).
You have a life worth living and the promise of Heaven (John 3:16).
And you are not alone. God will never leave you. His Spirit lives in you and will help you to thrive as a child of God (Isaiah 43:1-3).
Your decision to follow Jesus means two things:
1. You’ve completely turned away from and renounced the former, empty things, that filled your life. Let your heart and mind contend with the areas of your life that have separated you from God’s truth.
2. You have put your hope and trust in the person of Jesus who has forgiven you of all your sin and made you completely new. This is not blind faith, the Christian faith does not exclude evidence and facts, it is based on truth for God is truth.
You have decided to give God access to make you new—head to toe, inside and out.
God’s work in you is complete and God cares about every aspect of your life! What you’re experiencing now is described by a man named Paul in the Bible. Paul is a great example of someone who lived a misdirected and empty life and was also made new by encountering Jesus. In 2 Corinthians 5:17 (a letter Paul wrote to the church in the ancient city of Corinth), Paul describes the process of becoming a follower of Jesus: “...if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!” (CSB). God does not just redress you. You are new and the old has gone!
Be encouraged that God has changed your heart and will continue to be present in your life, helping you grow into the amazing purpose He has for your life. A moment of a decision leads to a lifetime of adjustments as you mature in Christ.
Accepting Jesus does not mean that your life is perfect and free of struggles. Instead, God’s power lifts us up and sustains us in very difficult circumstances. Our hope is far more secure than anything this world has to offer. 1 Peter 1:13 states: “Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.” This reminds us that our minds are always fully engaged in matters of faith and that God is at work renewing our minds from the deceitful narratives of this world.
Romans 12:2 is a helpful reminder to us that God is in the business of renewing our minds and that we are called—according to Paul—to think differently! “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8).
Our minds are a battlefield. You’ve decided to follow Jesus and align your life around His Word, and the enemy desires to wage warfare by sowing seeds of doubt. Do not entertain patterns of thinking that draw you away from God or the new identity He has given to you!
Let God make you new in your MIND!
M- There will be MOMENTS of disobedience, but God is ever-forgiving (1 John 1:9)!
I- Your IDENTITY is no longer in the world and God is helping us to grow and mature in our faith (Ephesians 1:1-13).
N- God’s Word becomes our primary NARRATIVE in life as we fill our minds with God’s truth and allow that to permeate our life (Psalm 119:105).
D- DECIDING to follow Jesus means a lifetime of walking with the Lord and actively trusting Him through prayer and faith (John 15:4-5).
Congratulations on taking this first step toward God! Be assured that He holds you in the palm of His hand and that He cares deeply for you! Your future is secure and your purpose has been restored—go and be fruitful as you connect with a local church and begin to work out the gift of God’s salvation you have received.