30 Days of Praise-Day 20 II Corinthians 5:17

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

I love new things: The first word of a book that hasn't been read, a blank page in a journal, mornings just before the world awakens, fresh starts, discovering something you didn't know before.

So I especially love this verse. To me, it is one of the most encouraging passages in Scripture to the lost or broken soul. This is the beauty of God; regardless of where we've been, how we've dirtied ourselves, what sins we've indulged in, God is ready and waiting to make all things new. Once we make the decision to allow Christ into our lives to "clean house" and accept Him as our Lord and Savior, we are PROMISED that the old man has been put to death in us and the new man is born.

What a completely profound, amazing miracle that is and what a God we serve! He the God of second, third, fourth...fifty chances. He is the God who sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins so that He could be with us for eternity. He is the God that wipes the tears of pain, shame, and regret from our eyes. He is the God that can take a completely nonredeemable situation and transform it into good, to use for His purposes and His glory. What a MIGHTY God we serve, and how deserving He is of our praise.