IF INDEED YOU HAVE HEARD HIM AND HAVE BEEN TAUGHT BY HIM, AS THE TRUTH IS IN JESUS:  THAT YOU PUT OFF, CONCERNING YOUR FORMER CONDUCT, THE OLD MAN WHICH GROWS CORRUPT ACCORDING TO THE DECEITFUL LUSTS, AND BE RENEWED IN THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MIND, AND THAT YOU PUT ON THE NEW MAN WHICH WAS CREATED ACCORDING TO GOD, IN TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS
(Ephesians 4:21-24).

One of the revelations that opened my eyes was the discovery that I had an OLD ME living inside of me, since childhood: a corrupted person, formed by deception…a needy being, shaped by the lies of the father-of-lies…a flawed personality, influenced by negative, destructive beliefs of abandonment, condemnation, shame, and rejection.

The father-of-lies did not necessarily need BIG TRAUMATIC childhood experiences to install his negative, destructive beliefs into our minds. Although he DID use the traumatic incidences in our lives to make sure we believe that “God is disappointed in you” and “You are fatally flawed,” he only needed a little word like “NO!” when we were three years old to tell us that “You are not loved.” This negative, destructive belief, instilled in us during an insignificant event, would have the same adverse effect on our hearts than the one instilled in our minds during a traumatic event.

KNOWING THIS, THAT OUR OLD MAN IS CRUCIFIED WITH HIM, THAT THE BODY OF SIN MIGHT BE DESTROYED, THAT HENCEFORTH WE SHOULD NOT SERVE SIN
(Romans 6:6).

But then I learned that the Lord Jesus nailed the OLD ME to the cross with Himself.  Then, on the third day, He rose again to become the NEW ME in each of us—Someone who is created without the lies of the father-of-lies, in true righteousness and holiness.

FOR IF, WHEN WE WERE GOD’S ENEMIES, WE WERE RECONCILED TO HIM THROUGH THE DEATH OF HIS SON, HOW MUCH MORE, HAVING BEEN RECONCILED, SHALL WE BE SAVED THROUGH HIS LIFE!
(Romans 5:10).

Are you aware of any childhood incidences during which the father-of-lies formed an OLD ME in you—a needy being, filled with negative, destructive beliefs of “I am not OK”?

Would you be willing to allow your OLD ME to be crucified with Jesus, and then invite Him into your heart to become the NEW ME from whom you may live? This is the only way you can get rid of your flawed personality, forever.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank you that I am not doomed to be a needy person, shaped by the father-of-lies, but that there is a NEW ME available to me through You.