M.Y.X. @ Six

It’s not too late for a fresh start!

What is your vision for a fresh start? We love having a fresh start. Think January 1st, the first day of the NEW year or maybe it’s the NEW school year. Some of us may need a fresh start with friends, grades, work, our parents, at church or with God. Whatever it might be, here are a few steps to get us on our way…

Identify the pain…This is why we want a fresh start, to get away from the pain. We have to do just that: leave it behind. God wants you to bring the pain to Him; His power is perfected in our weakness. This pain may be after a tragedy, or it could be physical, spiritual or even within a relationship. It’s okay to admit that you don’t like how you feel, to say you feel hopeless, to acknowledge that you make bad decisions. God can handle it, even when you think you cannot.

WHY should I change? Because pain hurts, it leaves you empty. And if you don’t change, it will continue as a cycle. If we don’t identify our pain, we often check out or do things to try to escape the pain.

Recognize that it’s all about God…and don’t reach for temporary fixes. It’s not about me. Isaiah 6:1-3 describes the Lord seated on a throne being exalted by angels. The angels were singing “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” God is holy, almighty, all powerful and all knowing. Only He can give you a new start. You can’t, your parents can’t; people cannot give you a new start. Because God created you, you have value and worth. That’s just the way it is. Because of God, we have to think “He created me for a purpose, I don’t want to waste my life…I want to/can/will change.”

WHO is my God? What does your life center around? Whatever is the center of your life, this is your god. Is it your appearance, your friends, your body, your job, school, or sports or even yourself? IF IT’S NOT ABOUT GOD, IT’S ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE.

Reveal the truth about yourself…look at your life in comparison to God’s greatness. The truth is we are pretty small. In Isaiah, he cries out to God “Woe to me!” He realizes that he’s not worthy of glory and that God is deserving. Remember, it’s all about God. What is the truth about your life? Does it show that you are trying to poing to Christ, to give God everything? Is there anything in your life that shows you know God?

WHERE is my heart? On a scale of 1 to 100, 1= Jesus Jr. and 100=Pure Evil. Where are you? Remember the two sided mirror – think about the side that magnifies everything and shows every little thing.

You release the past…God doesn’t want us to dwell in the past or on our regrets. In Isaiah 6:7 the angel touches Isaiah and tells him “…your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for…” This means that you are forgiven. If you tell God about your past, not because He doesn’t know but to show that you know you shouldn’t have done certain things and to show that you are sorry, then ask for His forgiveness, HE FORGIVES YOU. Once and for all. Just like Jesus died for your sins to be forgiven, once and for all. To live in forgiveness is freedom because you are good with God. Keep in mind that Satan will try to throw your regrets back in your face to distract you. You have to remember, as it says so often in God’s word, that all your guilt is gone. Only believe what God says.

WHAT am I holding on to? Don’t be paralyzed by the past when you can be motivated into the future. REGRETS ARE INEVITABLE, FORGIVENESS IS AVAILABLE.

Say “yes” to God…God asked Isaiah “Whom will I send?” Isaiah answers, “Here I am. Send me!” Isaiah said “yes” to God. What is God asking of you? Is He asking you to just say yes to allowing Him into your heart, into your life? Is He asking you to say yes to committing to read your Bible daily to get to know Him better? Is He asking you to say yes to the forgiveness He is offering to you? Say yes.

WHEN will I get started? Should be and can be NOW.

What will your fresh start be?
Accept a relationship with Christ today.
To rededicate your life, to come back to Christ.
To be renewed in Christ and be ready to go further through Bible study and prayer.
To respond in obedience and be baptized.