Closer to God and Seeing Changes in Life

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
                                     2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)
 
     I have felt a change in myself lately.  I have been in a kind of a rut, a plodding through life without much direction or a hope, but no clear direction and validation.  However, recently, I have felt a warm, comforting feeling.  It feels so good at times, that I want to thank God from the top of my lungs for the whole world to feel.
     So, what has changed?  Am I all of a sudden rich, worry free, or without issues?  No.  That isn’t it.  I still have the same financial issues and daily problems as I have in the past.  Yet, they don’t worry me nearly as much at the moment.
     The thing that has changed is that I have been spending more time focused on God.  I have been praying about what I want to do and how I should do it.  I have been finding ways that support my end goals and doing them, instead of just talking about them.  I have been reaching out more and trying to meet new people.  I have been reading the Bible more and praying more.  I have been trying to be more thankful and trying to give God the credit.
     I like these changes.  I do feel like a “new creature.”  I feel like I have a bunch of things to work on, but I feel God is with me.  I don’t feel the need to worry about it too much.  And, for the first time in a while, I feel like I have a direction and validation for what I want to do.
     It is always surprising when I feel good while focusing on God more in my life and wonder why I haven’t been doing it all along.  Why would I not?  Why would I not want this good feeling I have right now?  But, even more importantly, why would I want to be away from God for even a second?  I like this feeling. 
     I am finding that the second part of this verse is also ringing true, not that I would doubt God’s word.  Not only am I being transformed, but also old feelings, old ways, old thoughts, old hurts, also seem to be falling away.  I feel so thankful!
 
     So, what do you need to “pass away” for fall away?  In which way do you need for feel like a new creature?  How can you get closer to Christ, to focus on Him more in your life?

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