Isaiah 64:6, "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags..."

2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

Think

Have you ever thought about how amazing it is that a creepy, crawly caterpillar eventually becomes a beautiful, brightly colored butterfly? Within the metamorphosis process, a caterpillar goes into a cocoon quarantine and then emerges into a new normal - far better than before! The old is gone, the new has come.

When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, a metamorphosis occurs. Our old self that was unable to please God - even with our best efforts or "righteous acts"- is transformed. We become a "new creation," a child adopted, accepted, and loved by God.

As we are transformed on the inside, we begin to change on the outside, too. Some change comes more easily than others, but we begin to think differently, choose different priorities, and make different kinds of decisions. Sometimes, however, we start to doubt if the change is real.

If you look at past mistakes and struggle to embrace that you've changed, it's normal. But no matter how many times a butterfly chooses to walk on the ground instead of flying, it's no longer a caterpillar. And, no matter how many times you make mistakes after accepting Christ, you still have a new normal. God created you to do great things - believe it! Embrace change and spread your wings and fly!

Act

If you know Christ personally, ask God to reveal any areas that you may not be embracing in the new life He has given you. Maybe you're holding on to an "old" thought process, an "old" behavior, or an "old" dependency. Whatever God shows you, ask Him to help you and look for opportunities today to say, "No" to the old and "Yes" to the new!

Pray

God, Thank You for the life-change that's only possible through Jesus Christ. Even when I still feel like a caterpillar, I choose to believe that I am a new creation, a butterfly. In Christ's name, Amen.