The New Is Here - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - February 15
The New Is Here
By: Victoria Riollano
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” - 2 Corinthians 5:17
For years, I struggled with the realities of my past. I knew there were things God had called me to, but I wondered how someone “like me” could ever do such things. How could a woman who struggled with depression, extreme fear, insecurity, and obscurity in many ways ever be qualified? For years, I dodged great opportunities for fear of being exposed or people getting to know that I wasn’t so perfect after all. The shame of my old life was practically robbing me from the blessings God had in store for me.
Then one day…God reminded me of a truth that’s so evident throughout the Bible.
God doesn’t call those who are perfect, He uses those who are willing.
In fact, as I search the Old Testament, story after story reflect this truth. David, the adulterer, would later be called a man after God’s own heart. Abraham, a man who had been caught in lies, would be called a “friend of God.” Saul, one who had killed Christians, would be used to write half of the New Testament. Sarah, the one who laughed at God’s promise, would be used to birth nations. Time and time again, God shows throughout His word that He can use anyone. In fact, it would seem He got even more glory from using the ones everyone else believed were “disqualified.”
What God reveals in His word is a concept that every Christian should embrace. When we accept God into our lives, He gives us the opportunity to have a new life. Those parts of our past that were embarrassing and shameful can become used for God to minister to others.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17
This verse speaks to the beauty of new life that comes from Christ. Often, many accept Jesus into their heart as they are afraid of Hell, or what will happen after they die. Yet, they neglect the beauty that God wants to do while they are still alive. The truth is, Christ didn’t just die on the cross to secure our fate after death. He came to give us a life that can be full now and glorify Him.
I have come that they may have life and have it in all its fullness. John 10:10
The enemy, however, comes to do the exact opposite. His job is to steal, kill, and destroy you physically and emotionally. He knows if He can keep you trapped in your past, he can talk you out of pursuing God’s promises over your life. In this way, we stay continually “stuck” and wandering through life with no clear direction. The new life God wants to give us is voided by our previous errors. Is there a greater tragedy than a Christian who fails to live the life God ordained for them?
Today, my prayer is that you embrace your new identity in Christ. In fact, in the Bible, God not only made people “new” on the inside. He even physically changed their name. This is so important because we can spend a lifetime caught in the “name” we once saw as our identity. Yet, all the while, the Lord calls you daughter, friend, empowered, loved, strong, and triumphant over sin. Our job is to embrace the new and to make a choice to no longer hold on to the former ways and titles that once formed our identity.
I believe that when you learn to truly believe what God says about you, your life will never be the same.
Victoria Riollano is an author, blogger, and speaker at Victory Speaks. As a mother of six, military spouse, Psychology professor, Victoria has learned the art of balancing family and accomplishing God’s ultimate purpose for her life. Recently, Victoria released her book, The Victory Walk: A 21 Day Devotional on Living A Victorious Life. Additionally, Victoria has recently begun her journey as the podcast host of Victory Talk with Victoria. Her ultimate desire is to empower women to live a life of victory, hope, and love. She believes that with Christ we can live a life that is ALWAYS winning. Victoria also serves alongside her husband in leading Enlighten Church.You can learn more about her ministry at www.victoryspeaks.org.
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If you've been feeling tired, overwhelmed, depleted, or just quietly wondering where God is in the middle of a very full life — this episode is for you. And honestly? It might be for me too, because I'm recording this in one of those seasons myself.
Today we're doing something a little different. Instead of going deep in a passage, we're talking about what to do when deep feels like too much — when you need less, not more. Specifically, I'm walking you through one of my favorite practices for weary seasons: handwriting scripture.
Not typing it. Not scrolling past it. Actually writing it out, slowly, in your own hand — because something happens in your brain when you do that. The words land differently. They go deeper. And over time, they become part of that personal library of God's voice that the Holy Spirit can pull from when you need it most. That's what Psalm 119:11 means when it says I have hidden your word in my heart — it's scripture moving into your long-term memory, where it lives and stays even when you haven't opened your Bible in weeks.
I'm sharing the five verses I wrote out for myself today — and why each one hit me fresh even though I've known some of them for years. This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to follow the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
