"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Don't you love those "before" and "after" pictures of women who have just had a makeover? The "before" picture is often an ugly mug shot; the "after" picture is gorgeous enough for a model's portfolio!
Yesterday, I told you how Jesus saved me from striving and gave me "soul rest." Today, I'd like to show you my "before Jesus" and "after Jesus" pictures, because He has--and is--changing everything about me. That's because it's no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me (Gal. 2:20). See for yourself with these two pictures.
Before Jesus . . .
I thought being a good Christian meant keeping a lot of rules (don't drink, don't have sex before marriage, don't cheat on tests or taxes, don't, don't, don't). So I didn't. And that made me feel good and proud about myself. While I thought I played the Christian card well on the outside, I couldn't do anything about my heart. If others could have read my thoughts, they would have known I was a liar, a hater, and a luster (Titus 3:3–7). I was needy, needy, needy, longing for a guy to love and accept me. When I could get away with it, I wore seductive clothes, flirted like crazy, and manipulated circumstances to try to make things go my way.
After Jesus . . .
I don't have to "hide" anymore. I'm at peace and can be real with others—even about my "darkness"—because I have been wooed and pursued and loved by God Himself! Because of His unshakeable love for me proved on the cross, I'm free to love others rather than using them and looking to them to define my worth. Instead of flirting and manipulating and strutting my stuff, I want my interactions with men to be characterized by purity, love, and self-control. That's because God has changed everything about me—including my desires! Now, obviously I'm not perfect. Far from it! But I do continue to see God transforming me to look like His Son, Jesus (Rom. 8:28–29).
Your Picture
What difference has Jesus made in your life? How has He dramatically transformed you from the inside out? I'd love to hear about it! If you are a true Christian, you will be able to say, "This was me before Christ, and this is the radically different person I am today after Christ." If you don't see Him changing you at your core, would you begin to ask Him to show you if you really belong to Him and know Him?
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Comments
on Friday, July 8, 2011 at 9:30 am
on Friday, July 8, 2011 at 10:14 am
Before Christ: Sometimes I would go to church thinking it justified my faith. I would pray sometimes. I would even talk about God to people. Deep down, I was miserable, a sinner (drinking and drugs), premarital sex, and even having a baby before marriage.
In between: Now that my relationship with my son's father is on the rocks and I feel very lost, I have emerged my self in Christ. I need him now more than ever and about two weeks ago at church, He really spoke to me. The sermon was meant for me, and touched my heart
After Christ (in the future): I want to be a different woman. I want to find pure happiness. I want things to work out in my relationship and it will flourish the in the Lord and his plan for me and my son's father. I want to teach people about the Lord. I want to spread the Word of God. I want to feel pure again.
on Friday, July 8, 2011 at 11:58 am
I started doing all the right things once I realized the Holy Spirit was giving me strength-after I accepted Christ, but my mind has needed so much renewing! I sometimes get discouraged at 'how long does it take LORD' for me to really LIVE like I BELIEVE???!!!
I am so grateful for Rivive Our Hearts ministry in every way. I have been challenged by Nancy's gentle voice in teaching the truth. And these True Wm blogs over and over have caused me to see the real ME and to stop pretending TO MY SELF!!!
The result is such a beautiful peace, rock solid grace in my heart and an ability to shed my 'chip on the shoulder attitude' that sadly hung on for years after I 'accepted Christ'. Please forgive me LORD, for my denseness!!
This peace, this acceptance of God's LOVE and forgiveness has allowed me to forgive my husband an affair. The way GOD got me ready for that news is just amazing. Yes, it took years of HIS chipping away at that OLD SELF, but HIS new SELF in me was revealed at HIS timing and I am at PEACE!!
I love the new place I am with MY LORD!! I think when you are IN LOVE, you look beautiful, don't you think? I see it on my face!! Peace is the best anti aging cream!!!
I love you LORD, Thank YOU for ROH and True Wm. You knew how desperately I would need the work that they did at Your timing.
To others that are struggling, YOU ARE LOVED! HE sees it ALL, already, and no, you don't have to cover it up. Just rest in HIS pure loveliness. No, we can't deserve this pure love, but HE gives it and we NEED it. IT rests our tired and weary souls. Drink it in, my girls. He is the beautiful Bridegroom. He is the kindsmen redeemer who paid the bride price. He wants YOU.
What love!! Just believe it! Because, then its yours as well!!
Thanks for this post.
on Friday, July 8, 2011 at 1:24 pm
Jesus has changed me so much. Before Jesus Christ, I was so prideful and always concerned with what other people thought about me. But the sad thing is, I was so blind to my own pride. I thought I was at peace, but in reality, I was stressed all the time because I couldn't please everyone. I had to either live like the world or live like Christ. So I lived like a double agent, but the hypocrisy would cause me so much stress. I felt like I had so many things to hide.
Jesus has finally set me free from myself. He is my Master, and He has given me true peace. I'm not living like a secret double-agent anymore. I'm able to be open, honest, and transparent. It's been humbling, but I now have true freedom and peace. Now, I'm not so worried about what others think of me. I am only concerned about what Jesus thinks of me since He can see my heart and knows the true me. I want to be beautiful to Him! :)
on Friday, July 8, 2011 at 3:31 pm
I gone through so many emotions regarding this the past 8 years, but my constant companion has been my fear of the unknown and my fear that God would "do" nothing.
Jesus has worked a miracle in my heart! And as I every day learn more about trusting Him as a child, I feel more free, more comfort, and more victory!
Knowing that God writes my life story best has been freeing and has created such peace. (deep breath) ...deep peace. It's amazing. It's beyond my comprehension. And as all the "cliches" about God become so real to me, I fall deeper in love with Him.
Before the miracle in my heart, I was determined to solve our problems on my own. I prayed for help, but did not seek it. Now in my heart is the understanding that I need His guidance before I move, not after the fact.
THANK YOU, GOD! You have done what only You can do, and I thank You for freedom I now live in to trust You completely.
on Friday, July 8, 2011 at 4:20 pm
I gone through so many emotions regarding this the past 8 years, but my constant companion has been my fear of the unknown and my fear that God would "do" nothing.
Jesus has worked a miracle in my heart! And as I every day learn more about trusting Him as a child, I feel more free, more comfort, and more victory!
Knowing that God writes my life story best has been freeing and has created such peace. (deep breath) ...deep peace. It's amazing. It's beyond my comprehension. And as all the "cliches" about God become so real to me, I fall deeper in love with Him.
Before the miracle in my heart, I was determined to solve our problems on my own. I prayed for help, but did not seek it. Now in my heart is the understanding that I need His guidance before I move, not after the fact.
THANK YOU, GOD! You have done what only You can do, and I thank You for freedom I now live in to trust You completely.
on Friday, July 8, 2011 at 5:18 pm
on Saturday, July 9, 2011 at 6:21 pm
I encourage you to commit your life to Christ wholeheartedly—not for what you will get out of it but because it is your reasonable service for what Christ has done for you. It is true that when we face difficulty, we long for a closer relationship with Christ to help us through, but you want to cling to Christ in such a way that your heart is given to Him--not expecting Him to fix your troubles--but out of love and devotion for Him giving His life for you and saving you from the life of sin and sorrow you lived.
Keep listening in church, keep listening to His Word to you, give your heart to Him unconditionally. Find a mature Christian to counsel you and guide you. Accountability is essential for you and your son.
Pure happiness is not an end in itself but a by-product of making godly decisions day in and day out.
I encourage you to get Nancy Demoss’ book Lies Women Believe and find truth that gives your faith a firm foundation.
Blesings to you...
on Sunday, July 10, 2011 at 10:48 pm
Thank you for posting this on the website. I hope you won't mind if I use your picture and testimony giving you full recogition on my paper.
God Bless You!
on Friday, July 22, 2011 at 10:29 pm
Blessings,
paula
on Tuesday, July 26, 2011 at 11:05 am
Before christ:- I cursed, i had pre marital sex, i drank, i was in a party every week , i barely went to church.
I was on a destructive part being a pastors daughter turning my back on my family and God I wanted to experience life outside . At the time before i came back to Christ i had three boyfriends ...... terrible and sinful i know but this is what happened ......One day the first guy wen t away and the day after that the second one died and on the same day that second one died the third one stopped talking to me and boarded a plane and never told me . Also i got kicked out of university for a year around the same time because they told me i needed to take a year off to get my act together ................. .
This is my testimony and i am not ashamed because i have died with Christ when i accepted him into my life . No longer am i govern by sin and by my flesh but now i am guided by the Holy Spirit
After Christ :- Well i never thought i would be where i am, I have turned my back on the world and turned my eyes on the Lord , i am striving toward perfection every day is a new challenge in which i am to die to self , i am striving with the help of the lord to be a woman after his heart . My life has changed i no longer dress the way i did , nor converse perversely , I now accompany myself with like minded people who have one goal in mind which is to serve Christ and I am praying that very soon the wonderful man of god who the lord has placed in my life and I will be married soon :-) .. i love the LORD i didn't chose him but he chose me even when i really did not deserve it , he blocked me till i had no choice but to turn to him :-)
And we know the Lord did not come to call the righteous but he came to call the sinners to repentance and no matter how bad your past was .....Christ has washed you and if any be in Christ a new creature, then old things are passed away, behold all things are made new. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Thank you sweet JESUS
on Friday, September 30, 2011 at 1:37 am
on Friday, September 30, 2011 at 4:42 pm
on Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at 1:30 pm
on Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at 9:20 pm