17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Questions for Reflection:

What things in your past, your old self, do you struggle to let go of so you can embrace your new creation identity fully the way God has intended for you?

What are the checkboxes in your life that you feel if you ‘do’ enough will help God love you or keep him from taking his love away?

Prayer of the Week:

Holy and Victorious Trinity, Father-Son-Holy Spirit , You alone are worthy of all of my worship, my heart’s desire, all the praise all the glory of my life. I love You, I worship You, I trust You I give myself over to You in my heart’s search for life. You alone are Life and You have become my life. I renounce all other god’s and idols and give You the place in my heart and in my life that You and you alone truly deserve.

Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me. You are my true Father—my creator, redeemer, sustainer, and the true end of all things, including my life. I love you, I trust you, I worship you. I give myself over to you, Father, to be one with you as Jesus is one with you. Thank you for proving your love for me by sending Jesus. I receive him and all his life and all his work which you ordained for me. Thank you for including me in Christ, forgiving me my sins, granting me his righteousness, making me complete in him. Thank you for making me alive with Christ, raising me with him, seating me with him at your right hand, establishing me in his authority, and anointing me with your love and your Holy Spirit and your favor. I receive it all with thanks and give it total claim to my life—my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind, and will.

Jesus, thank you for coming to ransom me with your own life, making it possible for me to be “declared righteous” in the courts of heaven. I receive all the work and triumph of Your cross and sacrifice for me. I receive the forgiveness of all my sins which clears the way for me to live this day “synced up” and reconciled with my Father in heaven who loves me very much.

Holy Spirit, fill me afresh. I want You and need you so very much today. I deeply desire to live each moment empowered by You and You living in me. I now surrender my “self” and my agenda for today and receive You and Your agenda for me. Amen