At the end of this post, I offer an entirely new song to sing—one that is based on seven principles found in biblical texts.  Whether this ever gets set to music, I cannot say.  But this much I can say:  we all need to let go of the old song we sing and find our voice in a new one.

The Core

The “self-help” industry might have a formal start date of 1859 (with British writer Samuel Smiles), but the human pursuit of wisdom and self-improvement is ancient.  For example, the Instructions of Shuruppak is one of the oldest known literary texts dating from about 2600 BCE.  Right behind it, the Epic of Gilgamesh dates from about 2100 BCE and was a very popular tale for a thousand years.  Homer’s the Iliad and Odyssey are typically dated about the time of Isaiah the prophet, 750 BCE or so.  Even the Torah, the Prophets, and other books from 1,000 BCE to 100 CE that would eventually become collected into biblical texts.  None of these were “self-help” books in the current sense, but all of these and numerous other writings provide a steady perch from which to observe and address themes and concepts that aid and support societal and personal existence and quality of life: 

• Personal Growth and Resilience: How to pursue personal growth, face life’s challenges, and embrace the consequences of one’s choices.
• Ethical and Responsible Living: How to act ethically, take personal responsibility, and live with self-control.
• Relationships and Emotional Intelligence: How to act in family and friend relationships, build emotional intelligence, and face life’s challenges.
• Character and Virtue: The importance of honor, the principles of great leadership, the pursuit of wisdom, and the virtuous life.
• Happiness and Fulfillment: How to find happiness and live a meaningful, purpose-driven life.

Such things eventually became some of the core principles of current-day self-help philosophies and approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), and others. 

Now, I say all of this to make a point:  The idea of “a new you” is not some Johnnie-come-lately fad—it did not originate with self-help gurus.  What’s more, in biblical texts, transformation is not accomplished merely by you alone.  Transformation is ultimately a divine work.  The very idea that a “new you” can show up for a new phase of your life is an entirely legitimate thing to desire, to hold onto, to act on, and to nurture.

NEW Truths

There are at least a few very notable things called “NEW” in biblical texts.  When taken together they define who we are as people of God.  And they aren’t hype at all—they’re down-to-earth, existential truths about who we are in Christ.  They directly relate to how we take on the challenges that come to us all, how we navigate both triumphs and trials, and how we treat one another in moments of joy and sorrow.  In good biblical fashion, I’ll list seven:

1. I'm a NEW creation (2Cor 5:17; Gal 6:15; Rev 21:15): facing each day as renewed and reshaped through Christ.
2. I receive a NEW name (Isa 62:2; Rev 2:17; 3:12): embracing a transformed identity and a deep, personal relationship with God.
3. I sing a NEW song (Ps 40:3; 96:1; Rev 5:9; 14:3): celebrating God’s redemptive work and the joy it brings to my life.
4. I drink NEW wine (Mt 9:17; Mk 2:22; Lk 5:37-38): experiencing the transformative power of Jesus’ teachings and the kingdom of God.
5. I live by a NEW covenant (Jer 31:31-34; Heb 8:8-12; Lk 22:20; Rev 21:3-4): holding to God’s promise of forgiveness and an intimate relationship with him.
6. I follow a NEW commandment (Jn 13:34; 1Jn 2:7-8): walking in a love that reflects Jesus’ sacrificial love.
7. I look forward to a NEW heaven and NEW earth (Isa 65:17; 2Pet 3:13; Rev 21:1-5, 11): anticipating the ultimate renewal of creation under God’s reign.

If you will read these with care, you’ll see they tell a story.  They’re telling your story.  They’re telling our story.  And once again, like the first post in this series, you could print this list and read it a couple of times a day (morning and night) for just one month, and then you tell me whether such a small act makes any difference for how you view your life.  Let these seven “NEW Truths” become your daily anthem—speak them, reflect on them, and let them reshape your life. 

I'm New

So, what am I suggesting?  That if you say the above seven things like a mantra everyday, all your pain will go away and problems will be solved?  No, and I didn’t even come close to that.  As a matter of fact, we are never promised all our pain will be taken away, at least not until Christ “delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.” (1Cor 15:24)

What I’m suggesting is that we have hope. No matter our situation, no matter the pain, no matter physical trauma we face, we have hope.  Life might not be easy and pain very real, but the seven numbered truths above are given like a seal—a context in which hope can and will thrive. 

So, to everyone who faces pain today—or sorrow, loss, emptiness, or stress; who deals with loneliness, misery, failure, rejection, shame, or guilt—I offer a new song to sing, one built directly on the seven biblical “NEW Truths” above:

“I'm New!”*

(Verse 1)
I'm a new creation, shaped by love and grace,
Facing every moment with light upon my face.
The old has gone, the new has come, my heart’s been set aflame,
In Christ, I stand redeemed—I'm new, I’m not the same.

(Chorus)
I sing a new song, let the heavens ring,
I wear a new name, child of the King.
I drink the new wine, let it overflow,
In this new covenant, Your love is what I know.

(Verse 2)
I follow a new commandment, love’s eternal flame,
Reflecting Christ’s own sacrifice, I’ll never be the same.
With every step, with every breath, Your promise lights the way,
A new heaven, new earth—I'm new every day.

(Chorus)
I sing a new song, let the heavens ring,
I wear a new name, child of the King.
I drink the new wine, let it overflow,
In this new covenant, Your love is what I know.

(Bridge)
No fear, no chains, no shadows remain,
Your love breaks through like sunlight after rain.
Renewed, restored, in Your embrace,
I'm new, held by endless grace.

(Chorus)
I sing a new song, let the heavens ring,
I wear a new name, child of the King.
I drink the new wine, let it overflow,
In this new covenant, Your love is what I know.

(Tag)
I'm new, I'm free, Your promises are true,
From now to forever—I'm new.

In my next post, I will look at how this works in the lives of real people—people like you and like me.  But for now, let this truth stand out:  The desire for being NEW in every part of our lives is built into us as people of God who follow Christ. The idea of “a new you” is more than a theoretical desire, more than a grand desire—it is a God desire, a longing for God’s presence and work in your life!

Gary D. Collier
Director, IABC

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*The contents and words to this song "I'm New!" by Gary D. Collier, January 5, 2024. © 2024 Gary D. Collier. All rights reserved.  Whether this will ever be set to music is an open question.