Made New

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

 ~2 Corinthians 5:17

I get more excited about July 15th than any other day of the year. I count it MUCH MORE worthy of celebrating than my own birthday. July 15th, 2007 was the day that I surrendered my life completely to Christ through baptism. As July 15th gets closer and closer (and finally just a few days away now), I can't help but look back in my life and think about all that God has brought me through up to that very moment I was dunked under the ocean water. I will never forget those few seconds under water... they were the most relieving few seconds of my life; short, but long enough for me to look back and know exactly what was being washed away from my life. All my sin, all my shame... gone. It felt as if God threw it all into the ocean and told me "No more sin and shame, it's gone and lost forever.". All my sin, all my shame... never to be retrieved again. It's been washed away.

I admit though, it's been a challenge to live my life every day like I've been made new. There have been times where God has caught me swimming around trying to retrieve my sin and shame again and has had to correct me and bring me back. He's had to remind me that I've been made new; "Stop for searching for what I have already washed away and forgotten about..."

I've had to fight every day with prayer ever since that day on the beach. Prayer, in my life, has been more about fighting than it has been about miracles. When you give up on prayer because you haven't seen any "wonderful works", you cheat yourself of a lot of growth and healing. I made a decision on July 15th, 2007 to start a new life in Christ. To seek God whether or not anyone was standing with me. To pray for change whether or not I could see it happening. I can't explain how much that day has changed my life. And though sometimes I fail, I try my best to live every day like those few seconds under the ocean water... cleansed, made new and alive in Christ. Thankfully my new life in Christ doesn't depend on my memory... cause sometimes I forget that I've been made new. But God doesn't forget, and He certainly doesn't forget to remind me when I do forget.

Without a doubt, the day that I got baptized was the best day of my life. Not because it makes a good memory for me to keep, but because I get to live that day every day for the rest of my life because I walk with Christ. Now, whenever I get to witness others make the same decision I am filled with joy because I know that He is doing in them the same thing He's been doing in me!

And for anyone who is still deciding if they want to get baptized or not, know that there is no "perfect time" to get baptized. Don't wait until you "feel" ready! (I know I didn't feel ready...) You're not guaranteed "another time" to do it, so don't put it off! This is what the Bible says about being baptized...

"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

~Acts 2:36-38

I am so thankful to not have to walk this path alone. I have people walking with me and I had people pushing me to make my decision at the time. But God was with me before anyone... God was with me when no one else was. I have confidence that God will always be with me even when others aren't. That's where He found me, that's how I've come to love Him and trust in Him! He has seen every second of my life and has saved me! He is the reason I have my joy and peace today! : )