“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (KJV, Eph. 4:22-24).
“That ye put off”
Father, I have many sins that I need to put off. Your Word and law have exposed my sin and brought them to light. However, I pray along with David that You would search my heart. Show me the path I ought to walk and help me see what I must learn to put off.
Forgive me for my sins, Lord, as Your Word tells me that You will not answer my prayers if I cherish sin in my heart. Cause me to repent and put off the old behaviors as Your Word tells me You will not answer my prayers if I turn from Your law.
“concerning the former conversation the old man”
When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden, they brought death to all mankind. Your Word tells me that humanity has been met with a fearful condition. All mankind, at one time or another, has been spiritually dead and separated from You.
The old man is that Adamic nature that came about from the fall. The old man is that man who was opposed to You and Your commands. Please, make it evident that I have put off the old man. I pray that there will be no question in my mind that I have put off the old man.
I see that I am only in Adam or in Christ, and there is no in-between. I cannot be both in Adam and in Christ. Confirm for me that I have put off the old man. I would desire assurance of my salvation and be firm in my faith.
“which is corrupt”
While the old man was absolutely corrupt, I see a way in which I am still corrupt. I have not been entirely redeemed, but You have promised me that one day I will be. One day I will go and be with You, and I will be made new on that day. But, for now, I still suffer under the corrupting influence of the fall.
I see the war within that Paul spoke about when he testified that he did things he did not want to do and did not do things he wanted to. The desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh. They are opposed to each other and keep me from doing what I ought to do.
The flesh and Spirit act like guard rails in my life. If I go too far over to the Spirit, the flesh keeps me from advancing too far. However, thank You, Lord, because when I go too far over to my flesh, Your Spirit keeps from advancing in that direction too.
I see the corruption that remains, and I pray that You will rid me of the corruption in this coming year. Bless me with sanctification this New Year and war against my corruptions by Your Holy Spirit. Work in me, Holy Spirit, to will and work for Your good pleasure. Teach me to yield to You and Your refining process.
“according to the deceitful lusts”
The corruptions that I face are lies. The corruptions that I meet are the deceit of the enemy. Sin is deceitful by its very nature. Sin is contrary to the truth. Some may wonder why Satan believes that he will win in the end. Your Word has been given, and it is obvious that Satan will lose in the end. Some may say, “How could Satan think he would win against God?” However, what is often overlooked is that sin is deceiving. Sin darkens the mind of the sinner, and Satan is a sinner.
Guard my heart against deceit this New Year. Shine the light of Your Gospel into my heart and cause me to see clearly.
“and be renewed”
Father, I pray for renewal. I pray for a renewing work of Your Holy Spirit this New Year. You took Ezekiel to a valley filled with dead bones in the Old Testament. You led Your servant around them as You showed him the dryness of the bones. The bones were dead, dull, and dried out. There was no life within them.
However, You asked Ezekiel if the bones could live. Your servant responded that You knew the answer to the question. Later, You told Ezekiel to prophesy over the bones, and as he did, Your Spirit came upon the bones and brought newness of life.
Father, would You pour out Your Spirit upon me this New Year and bring life to my life? I pray for the power of the resurrection to be evident in my life. Renew me with Your Word. Renew me through prayer. Renew me by Your grace, and do not give up on me.
“in the spirit of your mind”
Here I see that You would desire me to be renewed in my mind. The mind is important to You, and I pray it would be important to me too. Teach me to be concerned with the fact that You know my thoughts, motives, and attitudes. I cannot escape from You and Your knowledge. However, I pray that You would bring me to a place where I would not desire to escape. I pray I would not want to hide from You because of my sin as Adam and Eve did.
Please show me how to gain the upper hand in my mind. Please show me how to engage in victorious thinking. Help me to fix my gaze on Jesus and to be overcome with my Savior. Help me learn the art of meditation and pondering Your Word daily.
“And that ye put on the new man”
I thank You that, as a Christian, I have put on the new man. Paul tells me that I put off the old man when I died with Jesus on the cross. He tells me that when I rose with Jesus from the grave, I put on the new man. Help me start the New Year with the recognition that I have been made new and can honor You in my life.
I have been united with Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, would You help me to act like it? Show me what it means to have put on the new man and to continue to confirm this reality.
“which after God is created”
What a blessing I have been made new in the likeness of God. In the Garden, when You created man, You created man in Your image. However, after the fall, while the image of God was still retained, it was tarnished. Through regeneration and my union with Christ, the image of God can shine forth in greater measure.
Thank You for coming and seeking to make all things new. Thank You for the great day that awaits me when You will finish what You have started in my life.
Creation belongs to You. Teach me to be dependent upon You and Your work in my life. So often, I want to recreate myself. While I am supposed to work with You, help me so that I never forget that I cannot do any good apart from You. Teach me to abide in Christ as my precious Savior bears fruit in my life.
“in righteousness and true holiness”
Here I see the attributes of God shining forth. If I have genuinely put off the old man and put on the new, and if I have truly been created after the likeness of God, both righteousness and holiness will be evident in my life. I thank You that in Christ I am seen as righteous and holy. I understand that I must never forget that I am united to Jesus and am positionally righteous and holy before you. However, You have called me to live out what I have been granted. You have provided the foundation, and I must build upon it.
You are holy and righteous, and therefore You are my perfect example. Teach me to walk this earth as Christ did. Teach me to carry my cross and honor You in all I do this New Year. In Jesus’ name, Amen.