New Year…New You!

The title may be overused, but could there be some truth to this statement?

"I was having a conversation with a friend this morning, and we began pondering the ripple effects of our choices – both the decisions we make ourselves and the impact of others' choices in our lives. This led us to a discussion of Luke 5:37-39."

“No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and puts it on an old one; otherwise, he will both tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old [c]wineskins; otherwise, the new [fermenting] wine will [expand and] burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined. 38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 39 And no one, after drinking old wine, wishes for new; for he says, ‘The old is fine”. (AMP)

In the Bible days, skins of animals were used to store the wine in their houses. The new wine and the new skins complimented one another as the new wine had not yet finished its process of fermentation (conversion of the acids, alcohols, and other microorganisms) that create a good tasting wine. The new skin proved to be flexible, strong, and easy to carry. Over time the skin expands and loses its elasticity, making it weak causing it to break down.

Old Wineskin (Luke 5:36)

This scripture talks about pairing the old with the new. “No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and puts it on an old one; otherwise, he will both tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. It is about completing the look, right? New outfit, new shoes, the perfect bag, even a fresh hairstyle. It is about putting together a complete outfit. In the same way, 'old wineskins' represent outdated mindsets, lazy habits, fear, doubt, and negative thought patterns that do not complement the vibrant, new life God desires for us. These old wineskins can manifest as procrastination, neglecting self-care, excessive screen time, or clinging to unhealthy relationships that drain our energy and hinder our growth. They can also appear as unrealistic expectations, an overcritical inner voice, the fear of failure, or limiting beliefs that we cannot change. These outdated patterns simply cannot contain the incredible plans and purposes God has for our lives.

Going into this new year let us challenge ourselves dig deep into those obstacles keep us in stuck patterns.

Seed #1:

Right now, I invite you to take a minute to identify the old wineskins in your life.

New Wine (Luke 5:37)

Here, Jesus continues the lesson, “And no one puts new wine into old [c]wineskins; otherwise, the new [fermenting] wine will [expand and] burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined”.  The fermentation process is where the natural sugars of the grapes turn to alcohol. This process can be adventurous, as during this stage you can experience the sweet, the sour, and everything in between. Think about the process of turning to Jesus. The journey to Jesus can be an experience of sweet, sour and everything in between. Why? Because it is a process of change. We enjoy a fermented life, which has aged beautifully and enjoy the fruits of the final product. Jesus is calling us to reposition ourselves in Him, where new life is abounded. We cannot carry old stuff with us to live a life with Christ.

Seed #2:

I invite you to take a minute to imagine yourself entering a new wine season of your life. What does that look like to you?

 New Wineskin (Luke 5:38)

Again, Jesus continues the lesson, “But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins.”  Within this sacred space, we are valued, cherished, and allowed to complete the process. By yielding to His guidance and embracing His power, we experience the profound transformation only He can bring. He carries us safely through this new process, leading us to expand and grow according to His divine plan. The new wineskins create a perfect environment for God to work in us empowering us to shed the old self and embrace the new life that God promises. This new wine skin is also an opportunity to start over, with the help of the Holy Spirit who is Hope, Comfort and Peace in tough times, strength to persevere and trust in His plan. The seeds of your dreams are tenderly regifted by God’s grace. I have experienced His grace, and I can testify God love have me the strength to persevere and trust in His plan for my life.

Seed #3:

I invite you to cultivate a new relationship with yourself if you allow God to create a unique environment where you can grow and expand into becoming who you were called to be.

Finally, in (Luke 5:39), Jesus says, “And no one, after drinking old wine, wishes for new; for he says, ‘The old is fine”. The old wine does not fit in new containers. Remember holding on to old mindsets, thought patterns, traditions, can hinder you from being the best you can be! Choose a new route.

Seed #4:

New environments can be uncomfortable. Old environments may be comfortable, but that does not mean they are good for us.

Ephesians 4:23-24(AMP):

“…that, regarding your previous way of life, you put off your old self [completely discard your former nature], which is being corrupted through deceitful desires, 23 and be continually renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh, untarnished mental and spiritual attitude], 24 and put on the new self [the regenerated and renewed nature], created in God’s image, [godlike] in the righteousness and holiness of the truth [living in a way that expresses to God your gratitude for your salvation]”.

Resist the desire to remain complacent with the old. Mediocrity can hold us back from the extraordinary. God’s best for is waiting for you up ahead.

As I reflect on the reason for starting this blog, I realized that I too was carrying old wine in new wine skins. When God delivered me out of an unhealthy relationship, that was my opportunity to drink from the new wine promised to me. Lighthouse4women was born out of my personal experience with domestic abuse. I wanted to be that support to other women who had the same experiences. Well before God had released me from the relationship, I had a passion for supporting women going through emotionally abusive relationships. Lighthouse4women is a community where women who have experience domestic abuse can receive support and safety as they heal from the trauma of emotional abuse. My hope is that women will come together in this community for support and to experience the newness of life by finding their identity in Christ and discover peace in their souls.

Lighthouse4women is a community where women will be guided to discover peace within their souls and believe that they hold value in the earth thank you God for the new.

NEW YEAR! NEW YOU!

Let us take the leap together and discover what it is God has available for us, living our lives with him and through Him!

Resources:

Bible Gateway.com

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%205&version=AMP#fen-AMP-25145c