Embracing New Life: Freedom and Joy in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Leaving the Past Behind for New Life

To be born again means saying goodbye to yesterday and embracing the new life that God offers. No matter how many times you’ve stumbled or how deep the mess you were in, God’s grace is always available to rescue, restore, and renew. When you accept this gift, your old sorrows are traded for joy, and you can truly dance on the grave of your past. Each day is a chance to live in the light of a new day, refusing to waste another minute in the old ways, and praising the Lord for the freedom found in Him. [05:21]

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Reflection: What is one specific habit or thought from your “yesterday” that you need to leave behind today so you can fully embrace the new life God has given you?

Day 2: Deciding to Follow Jesus Without Turning Back

Choosing to follow Jesus is a decisive, ongoing commitment to put the world behind and the cross before you. This means not turning back, no matter the cost or the temptation to return to old patterns. The journey of faith is marked by repeated decisions to keep moving forward, trusting that Jesus leads you into freedom and purpose. Let your heart declare, again and again, that you have decided to follow Jesus, and let that decision shape every step you take. [07:43]

Luke 9:23 (ESV)
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

Reflection: In what area of your life do you feel tempted to “turn back” instead of following Jesus forward, and what would it look like to choose Him today?

Day 3: Praising God with All Your Soul

Praise is not just a feeling but a declaration that God is alive, faithful, and true. Even when circumstances are difficult, as long as you have breath, you have a reason to praise the Lord. Let your soul refuse to be quiet, boldly proclaiming God’s goodness and victory over the grave. Praise becomes your response to God’s faithfulness, a way to remind your heart of His greatness and to encourage others to do the same. [13:54]

Psalm 103:1-4 (ESV)
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.

Reflection: How can you intentionally praise God today, even if you don’t feel like it, and what impact might that have on your outlook?

Day 4: Trusting God’s Word and Promises

God’s word is trustworthy—if He said it, you can believe it. He has never failed, and He will not start now. When you feel uncertain or when chaos surrounds you, remember that God’s promises are sure, and He will complete what He has started in your life. Take Him at His word, knowing that your future is full of hope because He is faithful to finish what He began. [18:48]

Numbers 23:19 (ESV)
God is not man, that he should lie,
or a son of man, that he should change his mind.
Has he said, and will he not do it?
Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

Reflection: What is one promise from God’s word that you need to cling to and believe today, even if you haven’t seen it fulfilled yet?

Day 5: Gratitude for God’s Transforming Power

God picks you up, turns you around, and places your feet on solid ground. He heals your heart, changes your name, and sets you free so you are no longer the same. Gratitude flows from recognizing how God has rescued you from darkness and given you a new identity and future. Let your thankfulness overflow as you remember how He called your name and brought you out of the grave into His glorious day. [21:31]

Psalm 40:2-3 (ESV)
He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the Lord.

Reflection: Take a moment to thank God for a specific way He has changed your life—how can you share that gratitude with someone else today?

Sermon Summary

There is a new day dawning for those who have been born again in Christ. The old life, with its regrets, shame, and sorrow, is left behind, and a new life of freedom and joy begins. No longer do we have to live in the shadow of our past mistakes; instead, we can dance on the very graves of those old ways, celebrating the rescue and redemption that Jesus has brought. This is not a one-time event, but a continual process—again and again, God meets us in our mess, trades our sorrow for joy, and gives us a reason to sing and praise.

Choosing to follow Jesus is a decisive act. It means putting the world behind us and the cross before us, refusing to turn back no matter the cost. This commitment is not always easy, but it is sustained by the faithfulness of God. As long as we have breath, we have a reason to praise. Our praise is not quiet or hidden, because our God is alive and has proven Himself faithful time and again. The resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of our hope and the reason for our unending worship.

God’s word is trustworthy. If He has spoken, we can believe it. He has never failed, and He will not start now. Every promise He has made, He will fulfill. Our future is secure, filled with hope, because He calls us His own and will never forsake us. Even when we feel lost or at the end of our road, Jesus meets us, lifts us up, and sets us on solid ground. Our identity is changed, our hearts are healed, and we are forever free. Gratitude overflows as we remember how God has saved us, changed us, and given us a new name and a new future.

Key Takeaways

1. True freedom in Christ means leaving the past behind and embracing the new life He offers. The grave of our old self is not a place of defeat, but a place of victory where we can dance and rejoice in what God has done. This ongoing transformation is a testimony to God’s relentless grace and power to redeem any situation. [05:21]
2. Following Jesus is a daily decision to put the world behind and the cross before. It requires resolve and perseverance, especially when tempted to return to old patterns. The journey is marked by a refusal to turn back, trusting that what lies ahead with Christ is far greater than anything left behind. [07:43]
3. Praise is both a response and a weapon. As long as we have breath, we are called to praise God—not quietly or timidly, but boldly and joyfully. Our praise is rooted in the reality that God is alive, faithful, and greater than any circumstance we face. [13:54]
4. God’s promises are sure and His word is unbreakable. When He speaks, chaos is brought into order, and what He starts, He always completes. Our faith is strengthened as we remember His track record of faithfulness and choose to take Him at His word, even when circumstances seem uncertain. [18:48]
5. Gratitude is the natural overflow of a heart that has been rescued and transformed by Jesus. Remembering how He picked us up, healed us, and gave us a new identity fuels a life of thanksgiving and worship. Our story is one of moving from darkness to light, from bondage to freedom, and from sorrow to joy. [21:31]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:15] - Goodbye Yesterday: Embracing New Life
[01:30] - Dancing on the Grave of the Past
[03:10] - Born Again, Again and Again
[05:21] - Deciding to Follow Jesus
[06:45] - The World Behind, The Cross Before
[07:43] - Reasons to Praise
[09:00] - Praise That Cannot Be Silenced
[10:30] - God’s Faithfulness and Our Response
[13:54] - Taking God at His Word
[15:20] - God’s Promises Never Fail
[16:45] - Meeting Jesus at the End of the Road
[18:48] - Gratitude for Rescue and Redemption
[20:10] - From Darkness to Light
[21:31] - Forever Changed and Free

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

2 Corinthians 5:17 — Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

2. Philippians 3:13-14
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

3. Psalm 40:2-3
He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.

Observation Questions

According to 2 Corinthians 5:17, what happens to someone who is in Christ?
In the sermon, what does it mean to “dance on the grave” of our old ways? ([05:21])
What are some reasons the sermon gives for praising God boldly and not quietly? ([07:43])
What does the sermon say about God’s promises and His faithfulness? ([13:54])

Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul emphasize forgetting what is behind and pressing on toward what is ahead in Philippians 3:13-14? How does this relate to the idea of leaving our past behind in Christ?
The sermon says, “Choosing to follow Jesus is a decisive act.” What does it look like in real life to put “the world behind and the cross before”? ([05:21])
The phrase “praise is both a response and a weapon” is used in the sermon. What does this mean, and how can praise be a weapon in a believer’s life? ([07:43])
The sermon mentions that God’s word is trustworthy and that He always completes what He starts. How does this truth affect the way we face uncertain or difficult circumstances? ([13:54])

Application Questions

The sermon talks about leaving behind regret, shame, and sorrow. Is there a specific regret or shame from your past that you still struggle to let go of? What would it look like to “dance on the grave” of that old self this week? ([05:21])
Following Jesus is described as a daily decision, not a one-time event. What is one area of your life where you are tempted to “turn back” to old patterns? What practical step can you take to keep moving forward? ([05:21])
The sermon says, “As long as we have breath, we have a reason to praise.” What is one way you can make your praise more bold and visible this week, especially when you don’t feel like it? ([07:43])
When was the last time you took God at His word, even when it was hard to believe? Is there a promise from God’s word you need to trust right now? ([13:54])
The sermon highlights gratitude as the natural overflow of a rescued heart. What is one specific thing God has done in your life that you can thank Him for today? How can you make gratitude a daily habit? ([18:48])
The message says our identity is changed and we are “forever free.” Are there labels or lies from your past that you still believe about yourself? What truth from God’s word can you use to replace those lies? ([21:31])
The sermon says, “Our story is one of moving from darkness to light, from bondage to freedom, and from sorrow to joy.” Who in your life needs to hear your story of rescue and transformation? How can you share it with them this month? ([21:31])

Sermon Clips

I've been born again. Goodbye yesterday. I'm living in light of a new day. I won't waste another minute in my old days. Praise the Lord. I've been born again. [00:03:45]

Again and again and again and again and again. You rescued me out of the mess I was in. You traded my sorrow for something to sing. Now I'm dancing on the grave that I once lived in. Goodbye yesterday. I'm living in light of a new day. I won't waste another minute in my old days. Praise the Lord. I've been born again. Goodbye [00:04:12]

my veins. Praise the Lord. I've been born again and again and again and again. You rescued me out of the mess I was in. You traded my sorrow for something to sing. Now I'm dancing on the grave that I once lived in. Again and again and again and again. You rescued me out of the mess I was in. You traded my sorrow for something to sing. Now I'm dancing on the grave that I once lived in. Here we go. [00:04:47]

The world behind the cross before. And I won't turn back. I have decided to follow Jesus. The world behind the cross before. And I won't turn back. I have decided to follow Jesus. Go to the world behind the cross before. And I won't turn back. I have decided to follow Jesus. [00:05:27]

The world behind the cross before. Or am I? Again and again and again and again You rescued me out of the mess I will take Betrayed my sorrow for something to see Now I'm dancing on the grave that I want to sleep Again and again and again and again You rescued me out of the mess I will sleep Betrayed my sorrow for something to see Now I'm dancing on the grave that I want to sleep [00:06:32]

as long as I'm breathing, I've got a reason Praise you, praise the Lord, oh my soul Praise the Lord, oh my soul I won't be quiet, my God is reliant How could I keep it inside, oh God Praise the Lord, oh my soul [00:09:53]

cause you rose and defeated the grave I praise cause you're faithful, praise cause you're true Praise cause there's nobody greater than you Praise the Lord, oh my soul Praise, praise the Lord, oh my soul [00:11:02]

Praise, praise the Lord, oh my soul Praise, praise the Lord, oh my soul Oh, I won't be quiet. My God is alive. How could I keep it? Oh, I won't be quiet. Oh, I won't be quiet. My God is alive. How could I keep it? Oh, I won't be quiet. Oh, I won't be quiet. My God is alive. How [00:11:29]

your word If you said it, I'll believe it I've seen how good it works If you start it, you'll complete it I'll take you at your word [00:14:04]

I'll take you at your word If you said it, I'll believe it I've seen how good it works If you started, you'll complete it I'll take you at your word If you said it, I'll believe it I'll believe it I've seen how good it works If you started, you'll complete it I'll take you at your word I'll take you at your word [00:14:48]

will never give up You said your heart will never forget or forsake me You said I'm saved and you call me yours You said my future's full of your hope You've never failed, so I know that you'll never fail me I'll take you at your word If you said it, I'll believe it I've seen how good it works If you started, you'll complete it I'll take you at your word If you said it, I'll believe it I've seen how good it works If you started, you'll complete it I'll take you at your word Oh, I'll take you at your word [00:16:25]

Just when I ran out of road, I met a man I didn't know. He told me that I was not alone. [00:18:48]

Pick me up, turn me around, place my freedom on solid ground. I thank Master, I thank the Savior. Because you healed my heart, changed my name. Forever free, I am not the same. I thank Master, I thank the Savior. I thank God. [00:19:06]

Oh, from now till I walk, streets of gold. I'll sing of how you saved my soul. It's wayward sun is found, it's way back. Oh, you picked me up. You turned me around. You placed my feet on solid ground. I thank Master, I thank the Savior. You healed my heart, changed my name. Forever free, I am not the same. I thank Master, I thank the Savior. I thank God. [00:20:01]

I was broken, you were my healing. Now your love is the air that I'm breathing. I have a future, my eyes are open. It's when you called my name. Yeah, I ran out of that grave. Out of the darkness. To your glory stay. You called my name. [00:21:01]

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