“For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, and true circumcision is not something visible in the flesh. On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart—by the Spirit, not the letter [of the law.] That man’s praise is not from men but from God.” Romans 2:28-29 (HCSB)

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” Romans 8:12-14 (NIV)

Dear Lord, 

Those of the Old Covenant were not merely to undergo a ritual that had no effect on the lives they lived. What You gave as an outward sign was meant to be more than skin deep. The casting away of tender skin was to be a constant reminder of their relationship with You, an intentional leaving behind of their old ways. They were choosing life with You over everything else. Sadly, it became a ritual; it lost its meaning. 

But You gave a New Covenant to them and to us that cuts away the real issue, our heart of stone. What human hands and will cannot do, weakened by sin, You did on the cross. Your life was cut off to give life—ours. 

We would live to cut away our wrongly placed affection and attachment  for the old way of managing the “love affair with self” that is killing us. We want to live joined fully to the invisible but evident power of Your Holy Spirit within. We believe Your Word– our life is now hidden in the Spirit (Colossians 3:3) You gave us at rebirth. Your life is in us; here for the taking, for the living! Old ways die with our choice to cut them off. New ways live because we are in the game! 

In Jesus Name Forever