“Counseling through the Word” Devotional: I am a New Creation

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest
Email

“Counseling through the Word” Devotional: I am a New Creation


As believers in Christ, we undergo a complete transformation—a shift from the old to the new. This is not just a change in behavior or perspective; it is a fundamental change in our identity. In this devotional, we explore what it means to be a new creation in Christ and how this truth impacts our daily lives.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 

Devotional Thought

In Christ, we are not merely improved versions of our old selves; we are entirely new creations. This profound truth lies at the heart of the Christian faith. The moment we place our trust in Christ, a radical transformation occurs—we are reborn. The old life, with its sinful desires and worldly values, passes away, and a new life begins. This new creation is marked by a spiritual union with Christ, where His righteousness is imputed to us, and our sins are imputed to Him. This exchange, often referred to as the “great exchange,” is the foundation of our new identity in Christ.

As new creations, our values, priorities, and desires are transformed. The things we once pursued no longer have the same hold on us because our hearts have been redirected towards the things of God. This doesn’t mean that we no longer struggle with sin, but it does mean that sin no longer defines us. Instead, we are defined by our relationship with Christ and the new life He has given us. Our old value systems, loves, and plans are replaced with new ones that align with God’s will.

This transformation is ongoing, as we continually grow in our sanctification, becoming more like Christ. We now live with an eternal perspective, recognizing that our ultimate goal is not found in the temporal things of this world but in the eternal glory that awaits us. As new creations, we are called to live out this reality daily, letting our lives reflect the profound change that has taken place within us.

Bringing it Home: Applying What We Learned

  • New Identity: Embrace your identity as a new creation in Christ, letting go of past sins and failures.
  • Transformation: Allow the ongoing work of sanctification to reshape your desires, priorities, and actions.
  • Eternal Perspective: Live with the understanding that your ultimate goal is found in eternal things, not in the temporary pursuits of this world.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for making me a new creation in Christ. Help me to live out this new identity every day, letting go of the old and embracing the new. Transform my heart and mind to align with Your will, and give me the strength to pursue the things that matter to You. May my life reflect the profound change You have made in me, and may I glorify You in all that I do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

  • What old habits or mindsets do I need to let go of to fully embrace my new identity in Christ?
  • How can I allow God’s ongoing work of sanctification to transform my daily actions and decisions?
  • In what ways can I shift my focus from temporal pursuits to eternal goals?

Take the Next Step on Your Journey

Thank you for joining me today. If you found this lesson helpful, I encourage you to explore more resources and support on my website, https://jameslongjr.org/. You can also watch my video on my YouTube channel.

Finally, would you consider joining our Lessons for Life monthly membership or our online group coaching, where you’ll find powerful coaching videos, a supportive community, and step-by-step guidance for lasting transformation?

Remember, true change is possible when you walk in God’s grace and for His glory. Until next time, may you find peace, hope, and joy in Christ alone. Blessings!

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest
Email

Gratitude journal

When was the last time someone said thank you to you? When was the last time you said thank you to someone else? So many people today struggle with a lack of thankfulness and ingratitude. This leads to struggles with complaining, criticizing, and comparing. Gratitude and thankfulness provide a powerful remedy for these problems. This gratitude journal helps us to identify what we should be grateful for and what we do as a result of seeing life as a gift.

God's grace prayer journal

Do you struggle with applying the truth that you learn during your study of God’s word? This God’s grace prayer journal will allow you to focus on gratitude and live in contentment in life. The journal pages encourage you to observe what you are learning from the Bible text, evaluate how you have failed to live according to the truths stated, seek forgiveness, and develop godly plans for change.

Giving hope

Do you struggle with the lack of hope? Do you find yourself struggling with doubt and insecurity during times of great challenge? During those times, you need to find your rest and assurance in pondering, personalizing, praying, and practicing what God’s Word says. In the short devotional, spend time meditating and studying each of these passages. Write down whatever comes to mind in the spaces below. And let God speak to you.

Discovering Godly patterns

One of the keys to growing in Christlikeness in our lives is to unearth and discover, and biblically evaluate our thinking patterns, speaking, and acting. This worksheet will help you be honest and specific about areas in your life that are not meeting biblical standards in thinking, speaking, and acting.

Counseling review journal

The God who began a good work in you will continue it through your lifetime and will finish it when we meet him face-to-face. God works for us, and God works in us. He enables us to become more like Christ every single day. This work is progressive and continual in this life. This worksheet helps us review and evaluate gains made during counseling and discipleship, show gratitude to God for what he has done, and develop plans for future growth and change.

Conflict review worksheet

There probably is not a day that goes by that we do not have some level of conflict with others. This worksheet helps us focus on the problem and not the person. It helps us evaluate how we have handled a dispute and how we should deal with it moving forward.

Bible study notes sheet

Do you ever struggle with doing a Bible study or journaling the key ideas from your reading? This Bible Study Note Sheet will encourage you to ponder and meditate on Scripture. Also, God’s Word is meant for you, so this worksheet will help you personalize what you are learning. It will also guide you in learning to pray God’s Word, and finally, it will encourage you to put into practice the principles and promises you find in reading the Word of God.

Anger journal

Anger is a significant issue for so many people. People often stuff or spew their anger, but very few learn to study their anger. This journal assignment will help you to do just that. It will help you understand, evaluate, and respond to your anger in better ways.

4 Steps to rethinking a problem

Do you ever find yourself getting overwhelmed with problems? Do you find yourself struggling with thinking clearly during a challenging situation? This four-step approach to rethinking a problem will help.

4P problem-solving approach worksheet

Problems can seem overwhelming. When we are in the midst of a significant crisis, many of us struggle with defining the problem and implementing helpful solutions. This worksheet helps us to identify three unbiblical and unproductive ways of handling problems. It also encourages us to destroy problems, not people, as we deal with issues in a biblical and God-honoring way.