I woke up in the wee hours of the morning, I think it was a few minutes after 3 am. It was my 3rd time getting up to use the bathroom no thanks to the late-night fluids I swore against guzzling down after 8 pm. Here is where I share one of my pet peeves with you, I have an aversion to public bathrooms. I knew I would have been out all day, so I forwent all liquids, not wanting an on-the-road bathroom emergency. When I got home much later, I had to make up for it; so here I was, again, another trek to the loo. 

I snuggle back under the covers; in the dark, looking at the ceiling but not seeing it and thinking about the past couple of days. A quiet calm surrounded me as I lay there with my feelings, but it was absent from my insides as I thought about my past life and ideas of what I would do better if I could. In all honesty, I am a bit contradictory because I wouldn’t do anything differently; still, I have moments when I allow my thoughts to go there. I couldn’t help thinking that I would take on a new identity. The mistakes I have made in the past don’t escape me; I am human, and even though I am Christian and I know the mistakes are behind me, I cannot help but still feel I would start all over, a new identity and all if I could.

Here is where I wake up from my silly musings and use the sword of the spirit to combat the thoughts. There is a beautiful passage of scripture that I want to share with you that helps me when I start to condemn myself.

“But forget all that— it is nothing compared to what I am going to do, for I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland—Isaiah 43:18-19 (NLT).

A new identity through salvation is a wonderful thing I wish all of us would willingly want to have. There is much to receive when we accept this gift. According to Wikipedia, salvation is the state of being saved or protected from harm or a dire situation. In religion and theology, salvation generally refers to the deliverance of the soul from sin and its consequences. And so, as a Christian who has received salvation, should I be focused on my past and wanting a new identity? The answer is no, so let us blame this desire on human nature. We read in 2 Corinthians 5:17: this means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 

What more do we need?

There is no need for us as Christians to desire a new identity because when we accept Christ and the gift of salvation, we receive one that frees us from the past. One that screams forget what was and embrace what now is. A gift that says—no more thoughts of condemnation. 

We must accept the freedom given and LIVE FULLY going forward; knowing that we have received a gift incomparable to any we have ever gotten. We must not allow our past to crowd our future, preventing us from living Boldly for God. Dominion is ours through salvation; but we must know who we are—children of a father who can give us all we need. We must live our lives openly, embracing love and giving it to everyone we meet, spreading hope and joy, and every good gift from above.

And so, if you happen to lay awake in the wee hours of the morning with thoughts of condemnation; or desiring a do-over, remember that your acceptance of Jesus as your savior gives you a new life and a new identity. As for my saved brothers and sisters; if human nature gets to your thoughts and condemnation creeps into your mind, please remember Isaiah 43:18 and 2 Corinthians 5:17. You have a new identity, revel in that!

Lots of love & amazing light!

Accept God’s gift of salvation here