Hey Sis…
Most things that are new come with a sense of excitement. New babies, new jobs, new experiences…it gives us butterflies and giggles and sometimes can take our breath away. Every 365 days (well this year 366 days) we all experience a “new” together as we count down to the new year. From what I have gathered from social media and discussions with friends and from the mutterings of strangers, 2015 was a hard year. It has been dubbed the year of lessons, the year I survived, the year of “you know what”. Therefore we all twisted our lips at 2015 the way we do that trifling man that we finally broke up with that ain’t never meant us a bit of good (who just came to mind?) and french kissed 2016 with passion and purpose and promise. We clutched it by it’s collar and whispered desperately “please be good to me”. And because it’s a new, never been here before year, it held excitement and hope for better.
If you went to church, you probably got the “word” for your church for the year. Your pastor spoke on what God gave him to say concerning your church and 2016. Ours was power. So when I looked at 2016, and clutched it’s collar and stared deeply, intently into his eyes (like 2016 was Idris Elba…or a crispy piece of bacon…or Idris Elba HOLDING a crispy piece of bacon) I whispered desperately “Please be good to me….me, you and POWER”. What was ya’lls word?
I am sure I am not the first sis to point this out, but if I could just tap you on the shoulder to get your attention and gently remind you….if you don’t change some things, 2016 is gonna look like 2015. (I ducked because I figured you might swing on me. You got close tho…my wig moved a little). Who wants another 2015?
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!
2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV
To be in Christ is to accept Him as your Savior. It means to be bound with Christ, united with Christ, linked with Christ. It doesn’t matter what the calendar says, when you make that commitment to Christ…with Christ…you become new…in HIM! The old you can’t stay. Old way of thinking. Old way of acting. Old language (ya’ll know what I am talking about). Old habits (ya’ll know what I’m talking about). Because when you are union-ed with Christ, Christ lives in you through the Holy Spirit. When you do, or say, or think something that doesn’t please God, you get the sense that it’s not right. You feel that tug. You feel conviction. That is the Holy Spirit reminding you that, that old girl cannot stay.
It’s a feeling we tend to fight. A lot. And make excuses for. A lot.
A better year, a great 2016, requires submission to those convictions. It requires killing our fleshly desires, and submitting to God…deeper then any year before. Greater than anytime before. It’s a breaking of habits (the old), coming into covenant with Christ, allowing Him to work and putting on the new you. We can’t react to things the way we normally would. We can’t say whatever we think whenever we think, no matter who it may hurt. We can’t go to just any place (Yes I know that the bar on the corner has the best wings…but it’s also a bar…so no sis, don’t go). You have to be different. You have to be new. When you profess Christ, but cling to the old you mentality, you become carnal and hardened to His voice. That is one of the most dangerous places to be, ever.
It’s not enough to say “I’m a woman of God”. We hear that enough, complete with a title to back it up. The true test of what kind of woman you are, and who you represent, comes in the evidence of the “new you”.
