Not a Better Life a NEW LIFE

Jesus went to the country of the Gadarenes and when he arrived he was met by "a certain man from the city who had demons for a long time. And he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but in the tombs..."Luke 8:27 The man was often seized by he demons and was "driven by the demon into the wilderness" Luke 8:29b We all know this story. Jesus casts the demon "Legion" into the herd of pigs and the herd runs off a cliff and drowns. Later the people from the town "found the man from whom the demons had departed sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind." Luke 8:35 I think there is a temptation (in fact I KNOW there is a temptation) to say, "God clean my life up and then use me for your glory" I do not think this is the correct way to approach God. We must ask God to GIVE US A NEW LIFE not just a clean sterile one. When you have walked with the LORD for a while you know many truths from God's Word. You know that you need Jesus and apart from Him you can do nothing (John 15). However, there is a temptation to ask God to change your life. We ask God to refine us to change us to clean us up...but we forget the simple prayer made at altar calls the prayer of repentance is not "Jesus give me a changed life" the prayer is "give me a new life." Of course we pray like David, "Create in me a clean heart Oh God" asking God for the daily cleansing of our sins when we repent and confess and approach the Holy throne to obtain mercy. But look at the next part, "renew a right spirit within me" Psalm 51:10 The Revised Standard Version says, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me." Let's face it. We need a NEW life. Not a changed and improved life...but a new life. This has been on my heart because I think we can easily fall prey to walking in our own strength in stead of in the Holy Spirit's strength. We can say a quick prayer, read our devotion and go about our day to day tasks, but are we really walking in NEWNESS of life? Jesus healed the demon and gave him a NEW life. Jesus gave him a new mind so that he could sit at Jesus feet and learn from him. He changed and transformed him. The man went from living without clothes, sleeping in tombs, walking as "dead" to a totally transformed man with a "right mind." The man now sat, clothed, in his right mind, in a right state of thinking, and NOW he was able to sit at Jesus feet and learn from Him. Only after the man became NEW could he be used by God. "Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." Rev. 21:5 Jesus didn't say, "Behold I made all things changed" He said behold I make all things "new." "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17 Abba Father, please forgive us for walking in this life in our own strength seeking change and modifications in our lives instead of asking for your Holy Spirit to fill us afresh and anew. We have prayed and asked for you to change us...but please don't just change us to make us better in our own finite minds, make us new with a new Spirit so we may walk in newness of life in accordance with your will. May we have your Spirit living in us, guiding us into the things you want for us. Help us to be humble and to seek to live new lives and be the new creations you desire us to be. In Jesus Mighty name, AMEN.