“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17
I am a new and ever improving version of myself every day.
Are you stuck in the past? Before you answer, I want you to really think. Are you growing in all the areas of your life where growth is applicable or are you holding onto a habit or two that you just can’t seem to let go of? Now you’re probably wondering why I would put it so harshly. Why do I have to call it “stuck” and “the past” like it’s a bad thing? So you can determine if it is. Often we don’t give ourselves a true and honest evaluation because we have things we know we don’t want to let go of… so we leave things out. We justify them. Sometimes we even pretend like they aren’t part of our lives so we can keep doing them in secret. Either way, they deserve to be re-examined so you can move forward to the next phase of your existence.
Now that you’ve begun to face those obstacles, what do you want to do with them? That’s right, it’s YOUR choice. I can’t decide for you what stays and what goes. But I can offer a little advice on it. First, let’s name some. Procrastination. Over indulgence. Self sabotage. Over exertion. Poor self-care. Church hurt. Familial trauma. These are just a few of the things we hold onto because we’ve convinced ourself we can’t let them go. We “work better under pressure.” “There’s too much to get done.” “That’s family.” And when you allow even one of these to remain in a space where you are trying to invent a new version of success, happiness, love, satisfaction in your life… you allow room for regression. But we’re not regressing today! So let’s affirm to a new and ever improving version of yourself.
Affirmation 1: I am embracing rebirth. Rebirth is not easy. It is not stress free, it doesn’t erase hurt and there will always be someone who doesn’t like the idea of a new you. Embrace it anyway. Allow that discomfort to help mold your story and form reminders of what your worth is. Think about the transformative life of the caterpillar and butterfly. The time spent in the cocoon has to be exactly what it is for the rebirth to be successful so there’s no use in fighting it or rushing it… you have to endure and experience it. In the end, it’s worth it.
Affirmation 2: This process is not a mistake, even if I keep making them. The rebirthing process is not perfect. And unlike our friend the caterpillar, we can’t escape into a cocoon until it’s over. People won’t see the process and respect that they shouldn’t hinder or hurt you while you go through it. And because our environment and systems impact everything we do… mistakes are inevitable. Don’t worry about that. When you make a mistake, learn from it. When you revert back to an old habit, come back. Just keep trusting the process and moving forward. You are worth it.
My loves, remember to keep God first and trust His plan for your life. Remember that He loves you and wants the best for you. And when you start to faulter, remember these words: “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17) This verse was written for new Christians to be reminded of the newness they were taking on by accepting Him into their hearts and lives. But it doesn’t have to stop there. If you belong to Christ (and only you get to say if you do or not… He’s not going to force you) you get to be new everyday with your words and actions and the love in your Heart for Him and others. So keep growing and going. Keep becoming new and being a better version of yourself. Keep professing His love, even when others make you the villain in their story. I love you, and I’m always rooting for you. Keep conquering daily.
EMBRACING EMOTION: THE BLOG 