Ephesians 4:20-24
20 But that is not the way you learned Christ! 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Recovery involves change, a change from your old way of life to a new way of life. There are several truths contained in this passage. For one, we must admit that our old self was "corrupt through deceitful desires" (verse 22). We have to get to the point of seeing the flaws in our lives, of seeing how we've been led astray. But it is not enough to simply put off the old. We also need to replace it with the new. Seeing the brokenness of our old self should lead to a desire for change, to change from the old self to a new self. This requires a change in "the spirit of your minds" (verse 23). We need to change the way we think, to be filled with "righteousness and holiness" (verse 24) from God rather than "deceitful desires". This is not a simple process, but the joy of a new life is worth the effort.
God, I confess to having been corrupted by deceitful desires. I want to change and have new desires. Help me to put off my old self and put on the new self.
20 But that is not the way you learned Christ! 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Recovery involves change, a change from your old way of life to a new way of life. There are several truths contained in this passage. For one, we must admit that our old self was "corrupt through deceitful desires" (verse 22). We have to get to the point of seeing the flaws in our lives, of seeing how we've been led astray. But it is not enough to simply put off the old. We also need to replace it with the new. Seeing the brokenness of our old self should lead to a desire for change, to change from the old self to a new self. This requires a change in "the spirit of your minds" (verse 23). We need to change the way we think, to be filled with "righteousness and holiness" (verse 24) from God rather than "deceitful desires". This is not a simple process, but the joy of a new life is worth the effort.
God, I confess to having been corrupted by deceitful desires. I want to change and have new desires. Help me to put off my old self and put on the new self.