But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. Colossians 3:8-11
As we enter the door to a New Year, our walk should be intentional. We should put on new shoes of faith and walk in the direction of the Lord.
As a fitness instructor, the right shoes make all the difference! I intuitively know when its time to replace my shoes. My back starts to ache, and when the insoles are worn out my workouts feel less energetic. After years of testing brands and styles, I have found the right shoes that fit my feet the best. I love the way the new shoes feel, and my workouts are invigorated with the just right fit. The new shoes support my feet which in turn supports my whole body. So, each New Year, I make sure to replace my shoes and start off fresh and ready for each workout.
It is easy to become comfortable in last year’s spiritual shoes and miss out on God’s plan of renewal. When we walk in God’s direction with precision and accuracy, He will invigorate our purpose for the New Year! Our steps should be ordered and directed by the Lord. Each step should be intentional, not wasting any time or ground on the foolish things of the world.
The Lord directs the steps of the Godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Psalm 37:23
We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. Proverbs 16:9
This means that we need to be paying attention to how and where God is leading us this year. Have you asked God what his plans are for you this year? Is He asking you to watch how you interact with others? Living with a Godly precision implies an arrow straight at the target. Does that describe your life? Remember, his plans are always for our good!
The Bible tells us, that He who has begun the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:6
The Christian life is a “putting on” of our new nature. It means to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and to clothe ourselves with Him. Every day, not just Sunday, determined to be more like Christ. How do we do this?
Clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires. Romans 13:14
When I take off my workout shoes at the end of my class, as a Christian Fitness Professional, my post-class testimony must still reflect the values of my class. When we decide to follow Jesus, we should take off our filthy rags of anger, rage, dirty language, cheating, lying, and anything which goes against the nature of Christ. The Apostle Paul instructs us to make no provision for our flesh but to spiritually clothe ourselves with the Lord to bring glory to God and point others to Him.
Put on your new nature, created to be like God truly righteous and holy. Ephesians 4:24
My husband has a bad habit of leaving his dirty mowing clothes in the garage, re-wearing them. I have warned him that spiders can crawl into them and harm him. Some people try to walk back and forth between God’s ways, and the world’s ways, with little hope of spiritual success. Every true Christian should be wearing the spiritual garment of the Lord Jesus Christ. You cannot leave home without Him!
To put on Christ is to continually wear the fashion of faith. Romans 12:2 tells us, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
We must take off the world and put on Christ. We do this by trusting Him in faith, being obedient to His plan and purpose, praying and communicating with Him, and always being thankful.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10