If you’re like me, you probably don’t like snakes. No, I’m not talking about the ones who walk on 2 legs and look like you and I (even though I can’t stand them either) but I’m talking about real snakes. Have you ever wondered what makes a snake shed his skin? I know you’re wondering how this ties into a devotional, but go with me. See, I found that a snake has to go through a process to shed their skin because the skin they’re in no longer fit and to remove parasites that have attached themselves to their old skin. Now, the first step is their skin becomes dull. In our Christian life this is when the light of God is no longer evident in our walk. The next step, the snake’s eyes become impaired and sources say they become excessively stressed. In our Christian life, it’s the same because at this point we’re no longer looking through our spiritual eyes and all we see is burdens being dropped on our shoulders instead of the strength God has given us to carry them. In the next step, the snake’s eyes clear up although their skin still has a dull look. In our Christian life we are starting to see the break in the clouds yet God’s light is still too dull to even give off a glow. This is because although we can see God, our faith hasn’t caught up. Oh but then the final step is shedding the old skin that has now become loose enough to pull off. In this process, it is said that the snake will rub their nose against something to start the process of the shedding and I say, in our Christian walk, its falling flat on our face. Yea, it’s being knocked down to a point where you didn’t think you’d come back from. It’s having your back pushed up against a wall and you don’t see your way out. It’s being without and you see no way of being with. It’s constantly robbing Peter to pay Paul and you still owe Saul. Oh but here comes God and when you’ve accepted Him into your life, you become a new creature because He takes all of the old stuff we used to do and all the old things we used to be called and throws them into the sea of forgetfulness – thus shedding our old skin because it no longer fits anyway.
The dirt that has been thrown on you by folks when they tried to bury your dreams, all the scars you’ve gotten from being drug through hurt and pain by family and friends, the hate folks spoke over your life when they said you’d never amount to anything and the tear stains from crying yourself to sleep at night; was all removed when you shed the old skin. (I don’t know about you but I feel something stirring in my spirit) See, when you shed the old you’re taking off all the things folks thought about you, all the old stuff you used to think about yourself and you’re stepping into the new skin that has no scars, no bruises and it shines like gold. The new skin fits you perfectly because it was made just for you. Yea, you used to be a drug dealer, so what, now deal in the works of the Lord. Yea, you used to be an alcoholic and drug addict, so what, now become addicted to being a better Christian. You used to lie on folks and with anybody who smiled at you, so what, now lie in God’s word because He promised to give you all you need. You used to steal from folks, stores and whatever you could get your hands on, so what, now steal away to study God’s word. You don’t have to be the same you were on yesterday. Shed that old skin because it’s dry and cracked and no matter how much you try it won’t shine like it should because it’s covered in mess. Oh, you may not believe my words but trust God’s because 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” And once you’re in your new skin your walk won’t be the same because you’re now walking in your destiny. In your new skin, your talk won’t be the same because your tongue has been tamed. In your new skin, you won’t even look the same because you shine will now glow. Go on through your shedding process because you’ll look and feel better in your new skin!
Lakisha, the Author 
Amen Sista Amen