Daily Devo

Nature declares God’s goodness

By: John Carrigan

Thursday, March 12, 2026

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17

This morning, God used something ordinary to remind me of His love. After I let our dogs out, I was walking around my yard. That's when I noticed a tiny banana plant sprouting from a patch of bare dirt. That may not seem remarkable to you, but it was growing in an area that I had removed all the plants from. After our recent freeze, I dug out every plant by its roots, and I repeatedly scalped the area with my lawnmower. Despite my best efforts, a precious green leaf was still "waving" to me anyway.

As I pondered that evidence of new life, I thought about the times I had been mowed down, beaten, and forgotten. But like that banana plant, by God's grace, I'm still here! God's Word says born-again believers are a new creation. We are re-born by Jesus and in Jesus.

We are a new creation because we have been transformed by God. We are fundamentally changed, and we've been adopted into God’s family. Our salvation means the Holy Spirit resides within us, and we have been reconciled to our Heavenly Father by Christ. Scripture says we are now justified, but justification is a fancy word that says God now sees us as being righteous. But those things were made possible through our faith in Jesus Christ.

But our new identity (our inner spiritual reality) doesn't obliterate every remnant of our old habits. We are changed, but change is an ongoing process. The lingering effects of our sinful thoughts, desires, and behaviors must be continually brought into obedience over time. Jesus broke our chains of bondage so we could become a "work in progress", gradually becoming more like Him. God is at work within us, reshaping our character, thoughts, and behaviors. It’s a process called sanctification and requires us to completely submit ourselves to the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit.

If you don't think you've changed as much as you should have, don’t be discouraged! God is still working on you in ways you can’t always see. Rest assured, He will complete the work He started within you, but it will be completed in His perfect timing.

God loves us so much, He sent His Son to die for us and to purchase us with His blood. If you are feeling lonely, dejected, or tired, ask God to renew your spirit. Like that little banana plant, we may need to poke through the dirt of this world to live. Then, we must give God all the praise and glory!