“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17
When we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we were given the privilege to become a new creation. We were given a chance to remove our old ways and turn them into godly ways. However, we must first realize that this doesn’t happen overnight or over a single prayer. It starts there, but we must do our parts.
If we want to be confident with our relationship with Christ, we should see tangible evidence of our new life in Him. We should be able to recognize our transformed lives. If we genuinely have Him, we would expect our new life to be different from our old one. We will leave our old nature behind and start living a life that glorifies God.
Pray to say “no” to ungodliness
“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,” Titus 2:11-12
It was God’s grace that saved us, and it’s still going to be His grace that will carry us throughout our walk with the Christian life. His grace is not just for our salvation but also our sanctification. It will motivate us to live a self-controlled, upright, and godly life. Because of God’s grace, we can say “no” to anything ungodly and worldly. We will realize that His grace is a privilege and not a ticket to continue sinning against God.
Father God, I honor and glorify You. You are gracious and loving. Thank You because Your grace met me in my worst and at my lowest. Thank You because I am saved and can now do good. I can now live a godly life not because of my good works but because of how good You are. It has always been You, Lord. Please help me continue to live a life that honors You and not take Your grace for granted. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Pray to obey God’s commands
“We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.” 1 John 2:3-5
We can say that we know God if we keep and obey His commands. A faithful follower of Him knows how to surrender selfish desires in exchange for a life that honors Him. This is one mark of a new life in Christ. Obeying all of God’s commands will result in having the proper discernment. Also, people will see God through the way we think and act. We will be able to reflect Christ’s goodness and kindness.
God, I thank You for commands. Thank You for giving them to us so we can prosper and be protected. I understand that for me to be able to have a new life, I must follow all Your laws. I must not be selective of the commands I will follow, but instead, I have to follow everything You have said. Please help me live like how Christ did. I want to honor You all the days of my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Pray to love others
“Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.” 1 John 2:9-10
Our love for others, especially our enemies, demonstrates our love for Jesus. So if we say that we love Him yet hate the unlovable, we are still in the dark. Loving people, even the undeserving, marks our new life as a follower of Christ. This is never easy, but if we focus on His love for us, we can and will be able to do so.
Lord Jesus, thank You for loving me beyond beyondness. Thank You for loving me the same despite my flaws and wrongdoings. Please help me love others as You have loved me. I pray to love as You did and forgive as God did. Please fill me with Your overflowing love, that I have nothing to do except share it with others. In Jesus’ name, amen.