Ephesians 4: 22-24
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desire; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
These verses almost make it sound as if this growth happens all at once- like a snake shedding its skin or a butterfly leaving its cocoon. There is a part of growth which happens quickly, when we accept Christ, but the rest seems to be more of a process. Maybe the key here is “putting off our old self”. In order to really grow into what I should be, the old needs to go. The old ways, the tendencies to slip back to bad habits, need to change. In order for me to remove these aspects of myself, I will need to recognize them as they show up, and make the effort to effectively change or eliminate them. A challenge for me. ❤️
Father God, help me to recognize my old, sinful habits when they surface. I want to grow with you. Amen
Becky, transforming
Ephesians 4:22–24 Whenever we are tempted to sin, this line is important….. let the spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Pray these eight words and listen to/for God’s answer. Paul was reminding the new Christians of Ephesus but even today even seasoned Christians need this reminder. We live in a world that wants to tempt us to stray from our beliefs. But… Pray that the spirit will renew our thoughts and attitudes. Prayer: gracious God as always. Your words are a constant reminder to always turn to you. Amen
Ephesians 4: 22-24
I have been taught innumerable things over these 65 years. How much I remember depends on how much I apply what I have learned. With regard to putting off my old self, there has been progress, but setbacks are a constant feature in my spiritual life. I take heart in what gardening shows me. Care and watering helps plants thrive. Neglect of their basic needs leads to death. But the amazing thing about plants is how resilient they are. Many times have I been convinced of a plant’s death, only to see it rally and produce blossoms and fruit after it receives focused attention. My spiritual life has been like this. Watering and nourishment seem to come…
Ephesians 4: 22-24 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds, and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
In the last few years I have come to know more about God through his word, than at any time in my long life. Reading the daily scriptures and attempting to understand all that is written has been rewarding and sometimes very challenging. The growth I feel in my understanding of my faith is a gift from God through his word. What a wonderful gift…
Ephesians 4:22-24 When I became a Christian a lot of things had to change. First of all right thinking and than right actions. Basically stop acting improperly and start acting properly. This transformation and growth does not happen over night. Sometimes we hold on to things that are unhealthy and by trying to let go by doing it our way is-no growth at all. We still hold on to hope in things other than God. We put our hope in relationships, situations, our mind, etc. being in God’s word every day, and meditating on the scripture of the day, always give me more hope and courage to start another day. I can remind myself and say, God wants this fo…
Ephesians 4:22-24
23 . . . to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
Growth in the Lord comes down to this – what we think. What we think is not always under control by us. Thoughts come into our minds voluntarily because of things that we see and hear. In order to grow we must practice replacing unwanted thoughts with words from the bible. Maybe, eventually, those thoughts will become automatic.
Dear Lord, I believe what I wrote but it is difficult for me to follow. I don’t know the bible well enough yet and what I read is not readily remembered when I need it. With your help I will continue to grow. Amen.