Posted: June 19, 2025
Written by: First Lady Shanan C. Burress
“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)
When we submit our lives to Jesus, we give Him full control of our hearts, minds, thoughts and actions. Honestly, we give Him control over all of us. When Jesus controls our thoughts, minds and actions, we should look, sound and think differently than we did before we submitted to Him. Not only do we look, sound and think differently, but our ACTIONS should also change along with our attitude and mindset.
Recently I was looking through some old journals that I’d written. As I was reading through the crinkled pages, I saw so many negative things that I’d written. While some pages were positive and upbeat (one of which I posted on social media this week about happiness), there were quite a few that I’d written where the subject matter was everything but happy. My journal entries (even to this day), are truly written from a place of transparency and authenticity. I may never be that transparent in real life conversation but my journals get my true inner thoughts. Sometimes I cringe when I re-read them because I can recall the sadness, hurt and/or frustration I felt in the moment of writing. Yet in still, I’m thankful that in those moments, I wrote my feelings so that I can now look back with a whole new perspective and see how the old me is so very different now. Thank you Lord! 🙌🏾
It’s exciting to get a brand new journal with fresh empty pages. Those pages have potential, and provide space for me to be my true self. While I appreciate the old journal pages; they are worn, scribbled all over and are reminders of some of the darkest times of my life. Just like the pages of a new notebook are new, I am new in Christ. I have so much potential and space to be who He has called me to be.
The old ways and old personality traits are gone and now you also are new in Christ. If you can’t see a difference in how you acted before you submitted your life to Christ and after you’ve submitted your life to Christ, then you probably have not fully submitted all areas to Him. The old should be gone and behold all things, including your attitude, your level of patience, your desire to love people even when they’re not lovable, should all be NEW!
The new me is kinder.
The new me is more patient.
The new me is more joyful.
The new me is more positive.
The new me is more hopeful.
The new me is more resilient.
NO, the new me is NOT perfect by any means. But everyday I’m recognizing who I am in Christ and who He is calling me to be.
No matter where you are in your relationship with Jesus, I encourage you to accept the NEW potential and space to be who He has called you to be!
