"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come." 2 Corinthians 5:17  

Change is good!  Change is bad!  Change is dangerous!  Change is refreshing!  Change is inevitable!  Change requires intention!  Change happens!  Some things never change!  When we refer to things as being "new" or "old", an assumption is often made that "new is better".  The problem is that we often fail to recognize that to go from the old to the new requires an awareness and acceptance of change.  If we replace "old" with "new", the old is now gone and we don't always want the old to be gone.  The inability to allow change to happen or the comfort that we think the old provides us often prevents us from moving to the new.

Lord, help me to realize that the "new creation" is vastly superior than anything that the "old creation" provided me.

But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord."  Joshua 24:15

There are times in our lives when we have no choice.  We are placed in a group or team or community without given an opportunity to choose.  Then there are times when we have choice but then again, that choice isn't fully under our control.  We can choose a house but we can't choose the neighbors.  We can choose a class to take in college or a company to work for but we can't choose our classmates or coworkers.  We can even choose a spouse but we can't choose our in-laws.  There is one time in life where we have choice and we have full control and knowledge of what we will be receiving.  We can choose God and God is who we get.

Lord, thank You for allowing me the opportunity to choose and help me to choose You every time.

For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; 1 Peter 2:15-16

Freedom is not "doing what you want with no consequences".  Being free does not give you the "green light" to do whatever you want, with no ramifications.  Our actions matter.  Our words matter.  What we say and do brings consequences when done or said incorrectly.  We have been given the OPPORTUNITY to make our own choices.  Now it is our RESPONSIBILITY to make good choices that benefit others and glorify God.

Lord, help me to use the position You have given me to benefit others and to please You.

"The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body...In fact, God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be?" 1 Corinthians 12:12, 18-19

We don't need to be someone else.  God made us unique.  We need to be who we are and we need to be content with that.  We also need to work with others.  It is not a world of one.  We are not alone.  We are not meant to be alone.  As much as we need to be content with who we are, we need to also be intentional about working well with others.

Lord, thank you for making me who I am and help me to be thankful that others are made the way they are and they deserve that same appreciation.

"Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."  Isaiah 1:18

God is willing to move on.  Why won't we?

Lord, please help those who are unwilling to get rid of their baggage and help them to trust You more and trust that You can grant them peace and victory from whatever they won't let go.

He shepherded them with a pure heart and guided them with his skillful hands. Psalm 78:72

We often have good intentions but our actions fall short.  Then there are the moments in our life when we produce results, but the manner in which we reach those results are improper.  God cares about both our intentions and our abilities.  He has given us much and He desires us to use our talents and use them appropriately.

Lord, help me to avoid doing half of my responsibility and help me to have a pure heart and to do things well.

"Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God's glory." - 1 Corinthians 10:31

God makes it pretty clear what our priorities should be.

Lord, help me ponder this verse and evaluate how I can do more things for Your glory than I do now.

"For it is not the one commending himself who is approved, but the one the Lord commends." 2 Corinthians 10:18

Never give yourself a nickname and never overly promote yourself.  Leave both of those up to someone else.  

Lord, help my actions to be enough and let the words of praise come from those actions and from You.

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin."  Hebrews 4:15

It is human nature for us to search out for at least one person who understands us and gets our current situation. That someone may be different for different situations.  If we are sick, we look for someone who is sick like us so we feel as if someone "gets it" and we are not alone.  If we are having difficulty in a relationship, we look for someone who "gets it" so when we talk about our situation, they understand exactly.  If we are struggling in any area of life, "misery loves company".  Look no further.  Jesus "gets it" and he gets it all.

Lord, thank You for understanding every one of my issues and obstacles, and thank You for the comfort that I am never alone when I have You with me.

"Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing."  John 15:5

God never cuts us off.  If anything, He goes above and beyond to keep us connected to Him (see Jesus).  We can't say the same thing about ourselves.  We routinely cut off God. Unfortunately, we can't survive without Him.  We try.  We try a lot.  Unfortunately, we end up being a wilted and brittle branch that lays on the ground with no purpose.  

Lord, help me to realize I need You and I am dependent on You.