Do you have struggles or issues? If you are breathing, your answer should be yes. Since we live in a fallen world, each of us unfortunately has been affected by our sins. These sins and issues that we have encountered have left many of us disappointed, wounded, confused, and just bound. However, when we committed our lives to Jesus, a shift happened. We shifted or moved from brokenness to healed, from disappointment to encouragement, from hopeless to hopeful, and from death to life all because of what we have found in Jesus. So, whatever we face in this life, we can “Throw It Off” with the help of the Holy Spirit.

    In Ephesians 4, Paul is urging Christians to live in a way that reflects the grace that we have been given because of Jesus. Verses 21 and 22 tells us, “Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.” This simply means that we cannot allow our old way of life to keep us bound, in sin, or living a life that no longer represents who we are in Jesus. Remember, you and I have been called out of darkness to a wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9).

     Then if we look at verses 23 and 24, it encourages us by saying, “Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.” How can you and I throw off our old lives, old habits? First, we must surrender our thoughts and attitudes to the Holy Spirit. Then, we must understand our new position. Like I said previously, we have shifted, moved from darkness to light from death to life in Jesus. Therefore, our new nature has been created to be like God not like this sinful world as verse 24 tells us.

     Remember, there will never be enough human strength, willpower, intellect, or money that is able to change our old lives and provide us with redemption from our sins. Only what Jesus did on the cross has allowed each of us to “Throw It Off”.