No Longer An Enemy – The Presidential Prayer Team

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. – 2 Corinthians 5:17

The transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly is quite amazing. It may go through five stages of molting its skin before the chrysalis is formed – the place in which it is transformed into an adult butterfly. The changes are breathtaking: wings are fully formed, antennae are formed, and the chewing mouthparts of the caterpillar are transformed into the sucking mouthparts of the butterfly. When all that is complete, it emerges as a beautiful, delicate, colorful butterfly!

The transformation of a person who has accepted Christ as their Savior is equally amazing. It is an almost unbelievable makeover from the inside out! Not necessarily any outer changes, but the inner one makes for a new person with a transformed personality. The spiritual presence of Jesus within creates a change of heart in this new child of God. Old things pass away… old thoughts, old principles, and old practices. This new believer learns to live by new principles, new rules, in new friendships, and with new thoughts inclined toward eternity. The follower of Christ is no longer an enemy of God. Harmony is restored between them because the believer takes on the righteousness of Jesus before the Lord.

Beloved, lift your prayers for revival in this nation. It is only through changed hearts that the malice, the hatred, the divisions, and the derision will be replaced by calm understanding, acceptance of differences, encouragement to work together, restored friendships, and a country blessed by God. Do not waiver in your faith. Delve into God’s Word. Let Scripture give you the knowledge and wisdom to be discerning in all circumstances, and do not cease to pray.

Today’s Verse: 2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: Isaiah 57:14-19

And it shall be said,
“Build up, build up, prepare the way,
    remove every obstruction from my people’s way.”
¹⁵For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
    who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
“I dwell in the high and holy place,
    and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly,
    and to revive the heart of the contrite.
¹⁶For I will not contend forever,
    nor will I always be angry;
for the spirit would grow faint before me,
    and the breath of life that I made.
¹⁷Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry,
    I struck him; I hid my face and was angry,
    but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart.
¹⁸I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;
    I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners,
¹⁹    creating the fruit of the lips.
Peace, peace, to the far and to the near,” says the Lord,
    “and I will heal him.