Week 2: Lesson

"I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live but Christ lives in me." (Galatians 2:20)

I really like the analogy given in this week's lesson: it talks about the heart being like a Pinterest board.

I don't know if many of you have seen Pinterest*, but it's like a digital bulletin board. You can collect things that hold special meaning to you. *(Don't get an account unless your parents say so. There is still garbage out there!)

Right now, my board looks something like this:

Obviously, I like collecting fashion, photo inspiration, blogs I like to read, and BBC shows I like to watch ;)

Now, I would much rather share a public image of my Pinterest board over a private look at what I pin to my heart. For I realize that it does NOT look so pretty and pristine. My heart is sinful, and it can put other things before God.

Sometimes I get too caught up in worldly stuff like movies, clothes, or secular music. Sometimes I care too much about my friends, and not enough for my family. I will value "me" time over serving others. I pin "love...with strings attached," "crabby attitude," and "short temper" to my heart board.

Here's the scary part: I can get comfortable living this way! Why? Because I am sinful by nature, and I fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

But here's the good news: God has given me a new identity!


Christ died taking away my sin, so I don't have to go on living in sin. "Christ lives in me"as it says in Galatians!

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come!" ~2 Cor. 5:17

But having this identity in Christ vs. an identity in sin requires something tough: repentance. Repentance means: I need to say I'm sorry to God and change. Yes, repentance means change because if I truly love God my life actions and attitudes will reflect it! 

Here is how:

I pray God will...
1. make me aware of my sin (so I am not comfortable with doing things that displease Him)
2. give me forgiveness for living in sin
3. make me want to change my heart so I can live in Him
4. show me how to change, and live according to His Word

If you think repentance is just for when you first become a believer, think again. As Christians we will constantly struggle with sin on this side of eternity. That is why we need to welcome God to keep working in our hearts. He saved you, so now He sanctifies you. (John 17:17)


As we learn go through our lessons each week, I always want to remember what kind of beauty is the most valuable: beauty in the heart. That's where it starts. If you don't have a good foundation to build off of, then all the other things we learn about (like caring for ourselves on the outside) won't really matter.

Know where your heart should be. Change your identity to be in Christ Jesus!

See you on Thursday!

~Kayla