One of the things that I sometimes struggle with as a neophyte in Christ is leaving behind the old things. There are times where you feel like you're doing well - walking in this new found purpose and reveling in the feeling of being a new creation. Then there are other times where you feel old things, however small, beckon you or you even feel yourself slipping backward. Examples include your thought pattern or even the things you expose yourself to on television. Many people do not realize how the things, places, and sometimes people you expose yourself to - can be a detriment. In 1 Peter, the Lord says "Be holy, as I am holy". Holy means to be sanctified, consecrated, set apart. This means that you may spend some evenings in the house with your Bible open versus out watching the latest "exorcism of so and so". I'm being a little dramatic, but the feeling of knowing you are either watching something, being in a place, or around people you should not is often not worth it.
Take heart, don't beat yourself up if you feel like you've made a slight detour to the left. There's room to straighten up. God knows who you are. He knows you may fall 6 times before you walk the 7th. We are so critical of ourselves that we can drive ourselves away thinking that we've failed. The blood of Jesus sealed all that stuff up and it is as strong today as it was over 2,000 years ago. When you confessed that Jesus is Lord and you received the Holy Spirit, you were made new. What you must deal with now is the residue of the old you. Pray, read your word, and keep good people close - these all help to renew your mind. And yes, this still applies even if you find yourself in bed with your ex, if you said a gazillion cuss words today aloud or(in your head), if you gossipped, etc. One thing I'm learning is that God will hang in there with you, you just have to make sure you hang in there with Him. Let go of the old you and embrace what He has for you. It's different and it's not easy to obtain, but I believe it's worth it.
I, too, believe it's worth it, Tiff!!
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