You are dead to sin and alive to God. That’s what Jesus did. That means you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives. Don’t give it the time of day.
Don’t even run little errands that are connected with that old way of life. Throw yourselves wholeheartedly and full-time—remember, you’ve been raised from the dead!—into God’s way of doing things. Sin can’t tell you how to live. After all, you’re not living under that old tyranny any longer. You’re living in the freedom of God.
Romans 6:11-14 (MSG)
As we are now a few days into this new decade, let’s look for a moment at all the things that held us back in the previous one—habits that crippled our ability to move forward in our faith and in our lives. Living our lives in the freedom Jesus gives, means leaving our old ways behind. This year, let’s leave behind…
Pride, dishonesty, envy, comparison, shame, regret, fear, isolation, pretending, hypocrisy, victim mentality, perfectionism, discontentment, striving, busyness, complaining, fitting in, lusting, ignoring, blaming, addiction, criticizing, holding grudges, grumbling, selfishness, gossiping, foolishness, moping, finger-pointing, procrastinating, quitting, settling, distracting, self-medicating, interrupting, hiding, worrying, labeling, over-thinking, people-pleasing, enabling, judging, taking for granted, and hating.
That’s all the world’s plan, but as Christ-followers, it should never be our plan. We have the greatest example to follow. We have been given life and freedom in Jesus. So let’s live like it with hearts and lives that are…
Sacrificial, faithful, kind, grateful, mindful, prayerful, encouraging, teachable, enthusiastic, wise, hopeful, energetic, understanding, generous, welcoming, forgiving, joyful, appreciative, honest, conversational, friendly, considerate, supportive, vulnerable, peaceful, patient, hospitable, gentle, courageous, confident, selfless, present, surrendered, productive, responsible, focused, flexible, persistent, sympathetic, relational, listening, intentional, sincere, respectful, purposeful, drama-free, accepting, calm, available, open, content, trusting, set apart, positive, unashamed, free, strong, admirable, loyal, holy, curious, humble, and restful. From now on, let’s BE LOVE! You are loved!