My father came from Italy. Often he would fascinate me with stories of their celebrations and holidays. One event stands out – New Year. They would begin each year with fireworks and noise making, hugging and dancing, shouting and well-wishing.

But that was not all. Believing that they should get rid of the old and take on the new, they would go through their drawers and closets and look for worn-out clothing, old dishes and furniture – whatever needed to be replaced. They would only keep what had value to them.

Perhaps it would do us good to go through our lives and take an inventory. We may find that we are harboring hatred and hostilities, harmful habits and hurts. Perhaps we would find some shortcomings and sins, false pride and forgotten promises. We may discover that there have been some days without prayer and Scripture reading, worship and witnessing.

The Bible advises us to “Throw off your old nature…be a new and different person, holy and good.”

We do not have to wait for a new year to do this. We can do it now!

Prayer: Father, we confess with sorrow, shame and sadness our sins. We ask that You would cleanse and consecrate us for Your service. Help us to throw off our faults and failures and replace them with Your values and virtues. Give us victory through Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Scripture for Today: Ephesians 4:20-24 You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,

The citizens of Italy have a unique way of entering into a new year. Beginning with an extravagant display of fireworks, followed by noise making and dancing in the streets, they end up the celebration by getting rid of the old and embracing the new.

To get rid of the old “stuff” in their lives, they gather all of their worn out clothing, furniture, china, silverware and utensils and throw them out of their windows. It’s dangerous to be outside when the celebration begins!

Paul said that the Christian is to “throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life which is rotten through and through…(and replace it with)…a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes.”

Our behavior is an outward expression of the thoughts and attitudes that we allow to control our minds. And if people see no difference in our behavior after we say that we have become followers of Christ, there is a problem. When we are born again, we receive a new nature that enables us to become new people in Christ. We now live in and through the power of the Holy Spirit. And if we invest time in studying His Word, in meditating on His truth and talking with Him in prayer, we will be constantly changing and becoming more of who God wants to us be. Our lives will reflect the promise that in Him we can become a new creation.

God begins a process of change in our lives that flows from our heads to our hearts and from our hearts to our lives. But unless we plant new thoughts and ideas in our minds that come from His Word, we cannot expect others to see any difference in our lives. Our old way of life becomes a thing of the past.

Prayer: Convict us, Heavenly Father, of those areas in our lives that fail to reflect our new nature. And may Your Spirit work in us to be who You have called us to be in Christ. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Ephesians 4:20-24 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. (Read more…)

My father came from Italy. Often he would fascinate me with stories of their celebrations and holidays. One event stands out – New Year. They would begin each year with fireworks and noise making, hugging and dancing, shouting and well-wishing.

But that was not all. Believing that they should get rid of the old and take on the new, they would go through their drawers and closets and look for worn-out clothing, old dishes and furniture – whatever needed to be replaced. They would only keep what had value to them.

Perhaps it would do us good to go through our lives and take an inventory. We may find that we are harboring hatred and hostilities, harmful habits and hurts. Perhaps we would find some shortcomings and sins, false pride and forgotten promises. We may discover that there have been some days without prayer and Scripture reading, worship and witnessing.

The Bible advises us to “Throw off your old nature…be a new and different person, holy and good.”

We do not have to wait for a new year to do this. We can do it now!

Prayer: Father, we confess with sorrow, shame and sadness our sins. We ask that You would cleanse and consecrate us for Your service. Help us to throw off our faults and failures and replace them with Your values and virtues. Give us victory through Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Scripture for Today: Ephesians 4:20-24