YOU are a new creation in Christ!

2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away, all things are become new."

This verse really encourages me! When we are in Christ, we have become new. We are given new life and we are not the same any more. We are not reformed. We are not rehabilitated. We aren't even reinvented! We aren't turning over a new leaf. We have died with Christ, and no longer live for ourselves. Jesus Christ now lives in us, and He didn't just clean us up. We have been made new.
As a new creation, we begin to look to Jesus, instead of self. We may not "feel" any change at first, but the Holy Spirit now resides in us. We have become the temple, or dwelling place. We begin to notice that we simply delight in the things of God. Our purpose, desires, direction and understanding are different. We have a new outlook. We begin to see people with a greater kind of love and compassion than we have ever experienced before. We are no longer slaves to sin. We are sons and we are daughters of the Most High, and we have been empowered and made righteous by the blood of Jesus.
We have been delivered from the power of darkness, and translated into the kingdom of God. There we have authority to speak to the mountains in our lives. We are secure in the love of our Heavenly Father, and as He is in this world...so are we!
All of this provision was made for us at the cross...and it is here that we stand. It is here that the promises of God are yes and amen. It is here where old things, the old way of life have passed away. We no longer see ourselves through the lens of this world. We see ourselves through the lens of God...whole...healed...prosperous...righteous...clean...secure...adopted...and loved! Beloved... YOU are a new creation in Christ!