City Life Starter

Written by Megan Meier

The Word

“Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything—and I do mean everything—connected with that old way of life has to go. It’s rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.” 

Ephesians 4:22-24 (MSG)

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” 

Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)

Reflection

It would have made no sense for Cinderella to go to the ball with the gown over her rags and ashes still on her face, especially with the fairy godmother there to help. The ashes were washed off (with water or magic, depending on the version of the story), rags replaced with a ball gown, and worn-out shoes with priceless glass slippers. She changed to the point of being unrecognizable, even by her stepfamily.

But the makeover and night off wasn’t everything that happened. In the 1997 version of Cinderella, the fairy godmother motivates the title character with a new sense of self-worth. (Spoiler alert!) Cinderella decides to leave the toxic environment behind and the prince finds her and they live happily ever after. If Cinderella didn’t change her mindset, she wouldn’t have thought she was worthy of a better life, even with a loving husband and regal settings.   

Paul knew intention alone isn’t enough. Changing bad habits and enacting good habits requires a change of the mindset, sometimes a complete reprogramming, or else it could revert back to the original. Or when pulling weeds, you have to dig up the root or it will grow back (the idiom “get to the root of it” originated from gardening). Reprogramming means something different from everybody, it might mean asking “why do I want to change?”, reading Bible verses that correspond with the desired character (better to feed your mind with positivity first thing in the morning than the news!), listening to positive podcasts on your way to work, surrounding yourself with people who practice the habits you want to embody, or working with an accountability partner or counselor. 

Application

What do you want to put off? An even tougher question is, what needs to be put off? You have to want to change before you can change. How will you reprogram your mindset? It could mean getting to the root of something. Maybe like Paul, it might require a complete overhaul of your life. Whatever it is, however hard it is to dig up that root, I pray you’ll end up with a beautiful garden of flowers. 

Prayer

Dear Jesus, please grant me the desire to change what needs to be changed, help me completely take off the destructive ways, reprogram my mindset for Your Glory, and put on new, godly character. In Your name I pray, amen.