Picking up where we left off in Part 1!

In the first part of this conversation, I shared how following Christ led me to surrender certain habits and mindsets — areas where the Holy Spirit called me higher and invited me into deeper obedience.

But transformation doesn’t stop at what we do.

As I continued to walk with the Lord, I began to realize that He was after something deeper. Not just my behavior, but my identity, my convictions, and the way I carry myself.

Because when you truly become a new creation, it doesn’t just change your habits.

It changes how you see yourself— and how you live as a result.

So let’s continue.

New Creation Identity: Daughter Before Demographics

Another way the Lord changed me into a new creation was by changing my identity. There have been multiple ways that the Lord has done this in my life and the lives of others, but I want to hone in on one specific way he’s done this for me, and it just might surprise you.

Before coming into Christ, I was a Black woman before I was anything else. My “blackness” was the lens through which I saw the world. Every opinion, mindset, and viewpoint passed through the filter of my ethnicity first.

The problem with this is simple. Any identity that isn’t first and foremost rooted in Christ is based on a personal perception. By definition, perception is subjective—so it can’t be the full truth.

On the other hand, God’s truth is objective and will always have the final say. So we must let God’s Word shape our views before anything else does.

Now that different aspects of my identity are in more proper alignment with God’s kingdom principles, I’ve noticed a couple of major takeaways.

Two Mindset Shifts

First, seeing myself as a daughter of God changes how I think, act, and respond. It causes me to check everything against His design.

The Bible encourages us to live lives worthy of our calling (Ephesians 4:1), so it’s my earnest desire to walk in step with the Holy Spirit and deny myself anything that could interfere with my relationship with God.

When your identity is misplaced, it’s easy to confuse priorities and view certain things as permissible when it could actually damage your relationship with God. To put it simply, now that my identity isn’t skewed, my ability to discern God’s will for my life has become much easier.

Second, as my ethnicity moved lower on the list, my perspective shifted. I now view race-related issues through God’s truth—not personal perception. Before, I made everything about race when that may not have always been the underlying motive.

That mindset led me into unnecessary tension and division. I often assumed everything was about race—even when it wasn’t.

And make no mistake: there have definitely been various situations that disadvantaged people of color. But again — seeing things through the lens of God’s truth helps me to understand the root of the issue rather than make a false assumption. (For example, is the issue truly race-related, or is someone on the internet just looking for a reason to be mad?)

The takeaway is this: let God’s Word shape your opinions—not culture. Capiche?

Modesty — Refinement, Not Repression

I would be remiss if I did not also mention the effect that modesty has had on my life.

Before we go further, you should know—I’m a fashion girlie, okay? Anybody that knows me knows that I love to dress!

So when I started feeling conviction about my choice in fashion, it hit me in an area that I have strong feelings about.

Looking back, what surprises me most about my modesty journey is that the Holy Spirit never gave me an explicit instruction to change my attire. Rather, that desire came from intimacy with God. He began to redefine what it means to be set apart. As a result, his desire for me to present myself modestly became my own.

What followed was higher necklines and lower hemlines. Looser silhouettes. Leggings stopped being pants.

No one forced this on me. Rather, my reverence for God outweighed a need for attention and the approval of others.

When I truly understood that my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, everything shifted. That revelation convicted me deeply. When I recognized just how high the price that Christ paid for me was, it inspired me to submit to him this area of my life that was previously left unchecked.

We are called to be ambassadors for Christ, representing him in everything that we do. And yes, that includes how we dress!

Modesty is not a limitation as some might believe. In actuality, it frees us to set our minds on what God views as a priority.

“For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.”
Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT

The Power of the Tongue: A Weapon for Righteousness

Proverbs 18:21 says life and death are in the power of the tongue. This is not a poetic exaggeration.

The Lord convicted me deeply here—especially in how I complain.

Complaining feels like it should be harmless, and venting feels justified when our feelings are hurt. However, the book of Proverbs tells us that only fools give vent to their anger. Rather, we’re not to worry about anything, but to come to our Father in heaven in prayer for all things (Philippians 4:6-7).

And honestly? After the Lord helped me understand why complaining is so offensive to Him, it made a lot of sense. Complaining is the opposite of gratitude, so when we complain, it’s like we’re telling God “you’re not doing a good enough job.”

And if our mouth is truly as powerful of a weapon as the book of Proverbs claims it to be — and, believe me, it is — then let’s wield our weapons for righteousness and watch how our circumstances begin to change.

Instead of complaining, or speaking negatively about a person or situation, begin to look for God’s grace in experiences that bother you, and thank him for his goodness instead.

Instead of complaining, let’s go to God in prayer and declare his will on earth as it is in heaven.

When we follow the principles that God has generously provided in his word, we will see lives changed, hearts healed, and atmospheres shifted.

What Causes Complaining

One more thing I want to point out as it relates to minding your tongue: if complaining is an issue for you, bear in mind that the mouth speaks what the heart is full of (Luke 6:45). This means that watching your tongue is less an outward action than it is the result of in an inward heart posture.

We are called to guard our hearts with all diligence (Proverbs 4:23). If you complain more than you praise, check your environment. What you consume may be shaping your mindset—and it may be time for a reset.

Personally, I love to meditate on Philippians 4:8 when it’s time for such a renewal. Whenever I catch myself dwelling on the negative, I command myself to take captive those thoughts (2 Corinthians 10:5) and take an intentional turn towards goodness instead.

 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Philippians 4:8

Final Thoughts on Becoming a New Creation

The bottom line is this: if your faith doesn’t cost you anything, you’re probably not following Christ in the way that he intended you to.

A life lived for Christ requires transformation. And transformation only comes by total surrender. It comes by daily and even moment-by-moment decisions that push you closer to Christ and living by God’s Spirit.

This transformation touches everything:
your habits, your identity, your convictions, and even the words you speak.

Allow the Holy Spirit to complete the work He started in you. He’s inviting you to draw closer.

If you’re all in and ready to pursue a deeper and more fulfilling relationship with Christ, comment “Lord, not my will, but yours be done!“

When you give God your yes, he will not fail you — and every time, you’ll be glad that you did.

Reflection Questions

Take some time to sit with the Lord and honestly reflect:

• What part of my identity have I been placing before my identity as a child of God?
• In what ways might God be refining how I present myself to reflect Him more clearly?
• What do my words and thoughts reveal about what’s actually in my heart right now?

As you sit with these questions, don’t rush the process.

Write it out. Pray through it. Let the Holy Spirit reveal what needs to be refined, realigned, or surrendered.

If you don’t already have a dedicated space for this, my journal In the Secret Place was created for moments just like this—where God is speaking personally and inviting you deeper. It’s a place to reflect on His Word, process what He’s revealing, and build on the transformation He’s working within you.

Because this kind of heart work is where real, lasting change begins.

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