A New Direction

 

By Andrea Merrell

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;

old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

 

“It runs in my family,” the man said. “I can’t change it.” He wasn’t talking about his height or the color of his eyes. This was his excuse for destructive habits.

Unfortunately, many use this cop-out to excuse bad behavior.

We all have what some folks call “generational curses” that run in our family to some degree. Mine include addiction, anger, fear, and abandonment. But I learned early on in my walk with the Lord that these curses can be broken by the power of the shed blood of Jesus and the life-changing Word of God.

As a teenager, I realized I didn’t want to take the same path as my parents. I desperately needed a new direction. After traveling down that wrong path for a few years, the Lord captured my heart and set me on a new path. I became a new creation, and old things began to pass away. He renewed my mind and changed my heart.

There’s an old saying that goes like this:

              Watch your thoughts for they become your words.

              Watch your words for they become your deeds.

              Watch your deeds for they become your habits.

              Watch your habits for they become your character.

              Watch your character for it becomes your destiny.

The Bible says, For as he thinks in his heart, so is he (Psalm 23:7 NKJV). No matter what has been “passed down” to you, by God’s grace you can change it. Renew your mind with His Word, and watch what comes out of your mouth. Your deeds and habits will change for the better, and your character will set you in a new direction.

Photo by Nick Page on Unsplash

Are We Sleepwalking Through Life?

By Andrea Merrell

 

I have come that they may have life,

and that they may have it more abundantly.

John 10:10 NKJV

I’m such a creature of habit, I can easily find myself going through my daily routine without thought.

I do every task in a certain order. It’s ingrained, like getting into a car. Most of us don’t sit there and wonder what we should do first. We automatically turn on the engine, buckle our seat belt, make any minor adjustments that need to be made … and off we go. It’s habit.

But even though I like things orderly, consistent, and predictable (yes, I can hear some of you saying “how boring” 😊), I’ve found that my routine can become a bit mundane. A bit like a hamster running in circles. Sometimes I have to step outside my comfort zone and try new experiences. Do things in a different order. Shake things up a bit.

Having a routine is not bad or wrong, but when we default to habitual responses, we might find ourselves sleepwalking through life. Even our spiritual life.

God sends His Spirit to live inside every believer. He wants us to be constantly aware of His presence. He wants us to talk to Him about everything. Seek His advice. Consult Him about decisions, no matter how small and insignificant they may seem. He wants to be involved in every moment of our lives. He wants to fill us with His joy.

When we walk with Him, our days will never be boring or mundane. He will lead us on paths of adventure and reveal things to us that will thrill us, instruct us, and cause us to have a greater awareness of His plan and purpose. That’s what the abundant life is all about.

The Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail (Isaiah 58:11 NKJV).

If you feel like you're sleepwalking through your days, leave the old life behind. Take God's hand, and let Him take you on all the exciting adventures He has in store for you. Experience a brand new life in Christ.

That's the best way to spend our days.

(Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net, Stuart Miles, and mrpuen.)

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When we walk with God, He will lead us on paths of adventure and reveal things to us that will thrill us, instruct us, and cause us to have a greater awareness of the abundant life He promises. via @AndreaMerrell (Click to tweet.)

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Just Say No!

By Andrea Merrell

And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written,

That man shall not live by bread alone,

but by every word of God.

Luke 4:4 KJV

Are you struggling with a habit you’re trying very hard to overcome? The old adage is “Just say no!” So, how’s that working for you?

Let’s look at an example. Maybe you’re trying to lose weight, but you LOVE chocolate chip cookies. You decide to cut them out of your diet and whenever you see one, you say, “I will not eat that cookie … I will not eat that cookie.” The problem is that the more you think about those luscious chocolate chips, the more you want the cookies. The temptation doesn’t go way … it generally gets worse.

So, what’s the answer? Change your focus and add some power to the no.

Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness repeatedly, but Jesus did more than just say no. He backed it up with the power of God’s Word. By speaking His Father’s sharp, powerful, life-changing truth, He won every battle and overcame every temptation.

How can we expect to do it any other way?

When we keep our mind on Him, He promises to keep us in perfect peace. Changing our focus and redirecting our thoughts, along with speaking God’s Word over our situation, will give us victory over all the temptations the enemy throws our way.

So, next time temptation comes knocking, just say, No! It is written …

(Photos courtesy of freedigitalphotos/Paul/zirconicusso.)

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Just say no, but back it up with the power of God's Word. via @AndreaMerrell (Click to Tweet.)

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