Someone may ask “what is the best way to have a new beginning?” Can a treat at the spa, some time off for vacation, quitting a job, moving to a new house, etc be a sign of a new beginning? It is rather unfortunate that some people have gotten involved in all the activities listed above and more but have not had this fresh start we all crave for. How do we have new beginnings?
Your new beginning may be a decision you have to make or a fresh routine. While some know it’s time for a new beginning, others don’t. Many of us don’t know what we are even created for or meant to be in life. In other words, we don’t know our identities, hence we don’t know where to fit in. The foundation of a new beginning comes from the place of intimacy with God and the knowledge of your self identity. I will use just one scripture to illustrate this idea.
Matthew 16:13-20 “When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.And I tell you that you are Peter,and on this rock I will build my church,and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Though this is a very popular scripture that is often quoted by many Christians, many people do not know some inner truths about it. Let’s look at the foundations of a new beginning from it.
1.) Do you know who you are?
Yes you want a fresh start but you don’t know what you love doing or what you want to step out and do. Jesus knew His identity and did not actually need a fresh start but his disciples needed to have encounters with God which was a new experience. Unfortunately, they did not have access to these deep things because they did not even know who Jesus was. It was therefore vital for Jesus to ask them if they knew him. Ironically, it is in knowing Jesus that we know who we are. Simon Peter knew who Jesus was and in return Jesus told him who he was. “…You are Peter and on this rock I will build my church.” -New beginning.
2.)Identity births a new beginning
The knowledge of you are will affect the way you do things and give you a new perspective. Imagine you have been suffering in poverty for many years. Then out of a sudden Queen Elizabeth sends for you and says you are her child and you never knew. It changes everything about you. Your name is changed to the royal name and you literally start over. The way you walk changes, your association, dress code and many other things change. This is the same thing that happened to Peter. After his declaration of who Jesus was, Jesus told him who he was. This boosted confidence in him and in the chapters further in the new testament, we see him doing lots of exploits for the kingdom. It is in being intimate with the father that we know our self identity and our new name, hence we can have a new beginning. What name is the father calling you today? Better listen fervently and have a change of identity for a new beginning.
3.) The confession of faith.
From our Bible narrative, we see that peter did not only acknowledge that Jesus is the messiah but he had to speak it out so that the declaration is sure. When we accept the messiah in our hearts, it is important to declare with our mouth who He is. This is the confession of faith in Christ that is a catalyst for salvation and it is this very act that makes you born again. Jesus is asking you this day “who do you say He is to you?” Are you going to answer like Peter or you will keep hiding? As you step out boldly to declare who Jesus is to you, He will change your name, your present and future. Only then will you have a new beginning. 1 Corinthians 5:17 says “if any one is in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things have passed away and behold all things have become new.”- A new beginning.
I trust that after reading this, you are encouraged to build intimacy with God and find your identity in him for a new beginning.
Simon Peter knew who Jesus was and in return Jesus told him who he was. “…You are Peter and on this rock I will build my church.” -New beginning. This is DEEP, I’d never viewed this scripture in the light of intimacy with God. Our true identity comes from the revealing of the Father’s Will to us hence knowing him/intimacy becomes prerequisite.
Thank you Arise sisters for helping to build our faith and knowledge in Jesus Christ. God bless you.
We bless God. May His grace accompany you as you grow in knowledge of Him.