Starting Anew

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who[a] do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:1-2).

Romans 8 is amongst my favorite chapters. It depicts a certain freedom that we gain when we live according to the Spirit. Us obtaining freedom in Christ implies that we were in captivity- imprisoned by sin- without Christ. We have an opportunity to start anew with Christ meaning, we get to things differently; better.

To walk in this newness of life, it is essential that we leave old things behind. 

Allow me to share my testimony with you. I faced molestation at the hands of multiple individuals, amongst the list of aggressors was one of my parents. However, in the Lord working out all things for our good (Romans 8:28, Genesis 50:20), He reached me one day. He made a declaration in my life that my experiences would be a platform to reach others. To God be the glory! 

However, it became difficult for me to leave certain experiences in the past. I left the door open to the enemy to enter and wreak havoc. The enemy worked very hard to skew my perspective on love, intimacy, and relationships. In leaving that door open, I was not walking in the newness of life that the Lord promises. I also could not receive what the Lord was blessing me with. 

In order to change, I had to make a commitment to seek the Lord, seek His word, and walk in that newness. As a result, I could do things differently. I could receive the blessings the Lord wanted to give me with joy and close that door that was open to the enemy. I could be different; better.

To remain on track and on time with the Lord’s will, leave all those things behind you. Whether it may be family members, experiences, or old habits (Matthew 16:24-26, Matthew 19:29, Mark 10:26-29, Luke 5:11). Close those open doors, come all the way into the kingdom, and start anew.