All Things New

Today was the first day of school. My oldest son is a brand new 2nd grader, ready to rock and roll. I mean, he has this school thing down! On the other hand, my youngest son started preschool today, and he DOES NOT have it down yet! My husband reported that he did well until it was time for daddy to leave. Then..."he broke". 

Like most toddlers who begin school, the transition from daycare or home with mommy to a foreign place with new big people, new little people, new spaces, new places, and even new toys can be scary. It's overwhelming. It's overstimulating. It's uncomfortable. When we are used to one way of life, the initial shock of something new can take us by surprise. This is what happened to my baby boy today. This is also what happens to each and every one of us as we mature in the Spirit.

There are some scary things about living a more righteous life. The things we are used to doing; the places we are used to going; the people we are used to seeing all change. Sometimes the change is so swift that we are caught off guard. Other times, we've had time to prepare for the change, but just the feeling of all this new stuff puts us in a weird head space. And yet, there are times that we are clinging to what we are comfortable with, clawing and scratching, hanging on for dear life to that which we know best. 

However, in His word, God tells us that He makes all things new. The King James version of 2nd Corinthians 5:17 says this, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." We've been warned. When we decide to live a different lifestyle, some things are going to have to go, some behaviors are going to have to go, and, unfortunately, some people may have to go. That's scary. That's hard. That's one of the things that keeps some of us from living up to our full potential. We are afraid of becoming new. We are timid in the face of real spiritual change. 

What if I fail? Who will I hang out with? What if I'm lonely or people no longer like me? These are the types of questions that swarm our brain and try to infiltrate our spirits. Someone reading this is being pushed to the next level. But, much like my 3-year-old, you look around and see that your surroundings are changing. The people around you are changing. YOU are changing. Don't fight it. It's okay to be nervous and to wonder what's to come, but don't be afraid. God has made all things new so that you...yeah you...can be a light in this dark world. Congratulations on graduating to a new level in spiritual maturity, and trust me, it's all going to be okay...He promised. Be Blessed. XOXO