As we approach a new year, our minds tend to turn to fresh starts. But we don't have to wait for a new year, new month or even a new day to affect change, experience change in our lives and leave our old ways and bad habits behind. One of the benefits of accepting Jesus as our saviour is the promise of spiritual renewal.

Making changes to our lifestyles can be difficult and this is why we put them off for as long as we can, and use the coming of a new calendar period to spur us on. But to truly change we have to be different, we can't rely on a new calendar period to secure change in our lives. Instead of focusing on how we can improve ourselves if we commit to Jesus we will find that he improves and renews us.

Below are some of the verses that touch on what being renewed means for Christians.

Psalm 51:10 - Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Romans 12:2 - Do not conform to the parer of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.

2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!

Ephesians 4:22-24 - You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Colossians 3:9-10 - Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge the image of its Creator.

Titus 3:5-6 - He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Sprit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour.