Devotionals
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
With God, every day is the first day of a New Year; or at least the first day of a new life
experience for those who believe. Every day God starts the clock anew. The slate is
wiped clean; and we all start fresh. New beginnings daily. Now that’s a reason for
celebration, is it not?
I have a friend who publishes a weekly ezine, Out of the Chrysalis--where caterpillars
find their wings. In this week’s issue she mentioned that her watchword for 2004 will
be “love”. Everything she does this year will be done in love, for love, out of love, with
love. For instance, she plans to pay better attention to her physical health for love, out
of the deep love she has for her husband and teen-age son, both of whom want her
around with them for a long, long time. With that kind of motivation, I feel pretty sure
she’ll do just fine with that goal. Love is such a motivator, isn’t it?
Well, I was so inspired by the issue that I immediately emailed her to tell her that this
would be the break-out year for me as well. This year I am ripping out of the cocoon.
See, I’ve always known that I was a butterfly; however, I somehow got stuck in caterpillar
mode. I’d been a caterpillar for so long that I had convinced myself that this dirty,
ugly, crawl on the ground existence was all there was for me, was all I deserved.
I stopped loving me. But God didn’t. He just stayed with me, working with me (and on
me) until my memory returned, and I remembered who I was. I asked Him to forgive my
amnesia, and He said “ok”. He doesn’t hold all those caterpillar years against me! He’s
just glad that I finally remember I’m a butterfly as He originally purposed me to be.
The metamorphosis has begun in earnest. I am shedding this caterpillar skin and putting
on my butterfly wings so I can soar. This year I will get my house in order. Literally. This
disorder and disarray might have been okay for a caterpillar, but butterflies can't live like this.
(And God was pretty tired of it, too!). So I'll do this in love, for love, out of love
with love.
What about you? Will you shed your caterpillar skin? What do you have to do to
get "your house in order", literally or figuratively? Will you do it for Him? In love?
Out of love? For Love? With Love?
Heavenly Father, thank you so much for new mercies every day. What an awesome
privilege to know, serve and love a God who not only forgives us when we ask, but
wipes our slates clean No, better than that: it is as if the “offence” never took place.
Thank You, Father, for that kind of love. May our words, thoughts, actions, our
very lives honor you always. Amen
****************************************************************************************************************
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973,
1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
****************************************************************************************************************
PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com. This is especially true with articles that
deal with personal healthcare and prophecy. We encourage the reader to make their own decision in consultation with God, His Word, and others as needed.
This article has been read 659 times < Previous | Next >
Read more articles by CharlotteF Flowers or search for other articles by topic below.
This article has been read 659 times < Previous | Next >
Search for articles on: (e.g. creation; holiness etc.)
Read more by clicking on a link:Free Reprints
Main Site Articles
Most Read Articles
Highly Acclaimed Challenge Articles.
New Release Christian Books for Free for a Simple Review.
NEW - Surprise Me With an Article - Click here for a random URL
God is Not Against You - He Came on an All Out Rescue Mission to Save You
...in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them... 2 Cor 5:19
Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38
LEARN & TRUST JESUS HERE
FaithWriters offers Christian reading material for Christian readers. We offer Christian articles, Christian fiction, Christian non-fiction, Christian Bible studies, Christian poems, Christian articles for sale, free use Christian articles, Christian living articles, New Covenant Christian Bible Studies, Christian magazine articles and new Christian articles. We write for Jesus about God, the Bible, salvation, prayer and the word of God.
I was really blessed by "Ring in the New." I can very much relate to it. Thank you. Blessings, Debbie Westoby