New Year, New Oil
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." – 2 Corinthians 5:17
None of us are exempt from struggle. We are all in this battle together. The enemy loves to isolate you, making you believe that no one else is going through what you are facing. He whispers lies that you are the only one wrestling with that temptation, that sin, that pain. But the truth is, you are not alone.
In a moment of honesty, I had to admit I needed help. I needed to go in a different direction. So in January of 2024, I checked myself into a five-day therapy program in Kalamazoo, Michigan. For five days, from morning to afternoon, I sat with someone who had walked the same path as a pastor and church leader. Together, we worked through past traumas, struggles, and depression. And let me tell you, God met me in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
While I was there, something caught my attention. All over the city, I kept seeing the same sign. It was outside an oil change shop called Uncle Ed’s. The sign read, “New Year, New Oil.” At first, I thought it was just one location, but I soon realized it was a franchise. Everywhere I went, I saw the same message: New Year, New Oil.
That phrase stuck with me. When a car comes in for an oil change, the old oil is drained out so that new oil can be poured in. There is no way to run a vehicle on old, dirty oil and expect it to perform well. Something has to be emptied so that something fresh can be poured in.
That is exactly what God was doing in me. He was emptying out what needed to go—old wounds, old struggles, old ways of thinking—so that He could fill me with something new. His healing. His presence. His power.
Maybe that is where you are today. Maybe you have been running on empty, carrying things that God never intended for you to hold onto. Maybe it is time to let Him do a deep work in you, to empty out what is weighing you down and fill you with something fresh.
God is not finished with you. He is ready to do something new. The question is, will you let Him? Will you step into the oil change bay of His presence and let Him replace the old with something greater? It’s time for some new oil.
None of us are exempt from struggle. We are all in this battle together. The enemy loves to isolate you, making you believe that no one else is going through what you are facing. He whispers lies that you are the only one wrestling with that temptation, that sin, that pain. But the truth is, you are not alone.
In a moment of honesty, I had to admit I needed help. I needed to go in a different direction. So in January of 2024, I checked myself into a five-day therapy program in Kalamazoo, Michigan. For five days, from morning to afternoon, I sat with someone who had walked the same path as a pastor and church leader. Together, we worked through past traumas, struggles, and depression. And let me tell you, God met me in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
While I was there, something caught my attention. All over the city, I kept seeing the same sign. It was outside an oil change shop called Uncle Ed’s. The sign read, “New Year, New Oil.” At first, I thought it was just one location, but I soon realized it was a franchise. Everywhere I went, I saw the same message: New Year, New Oil.
That phrase stuck with me. When a car comes in for an oil change, the old oil is drained out so that new oil can be poured in. There is no way to run a vehicle on old, dirty oil and expect it to perform well. Something has to be emptied so that something fresh can be poured in.
That is exactly what God was doing in me. He was emptying out what needed to go—old wounds, old struggles, old ways of thinking—so that He could fill me with something new. His healing. His presence. His power.
Maybe that is where you are today. Maybe you have been running on empty, carrying things that God never intended for you to hold onto. Maybe it is time to let Him do a deep work in you, to empty out what is weighing you down and fill you with something fresh.
God is not finished with you. He is ready to do something new. The question is, will you let Him? Will you step into the oil change bay of His presence and let Him replace the old with something greater? It’s time for some new oil.
Free Email Devotional - Sign Up Now
Recent
The Word You Read Today Might Be for Someone Else Tomorrow
February 17th, 2026
You Might Be the Only Bible They Read
February 16th, 2026
The Holy Spirit Works with What You Store
February 15th, 2026
Freedom Comes from Knowing the Truth
February 14th, 2026
God Is Speaking Every Time You Open the Bible
February 13th, 2026
Archive
2026
January
When Prayer Feels Like Bad ReceptionTeach Us to Pray AgainRelationship Over RequestsPulled Toward HeavenWhen God Says No, Slow, Grow, or GoPray Bigger PrayersPray Without Ceasing in Real LifeWhen Persistence Feels PointlessWhen Darkness Reacts to LightWorship as WarfareChains Fall in His PresenceNot Who I Used to BeWhen God Reveals the BattleNo Fear in the Presence of PowerSet Free to WorshipVictory Is NowWhat You Love, You ShareGod Has a Brag Book, and You’re in ItThe Moment You Missed and the Mercy That RemainsBetter Today Than YesterdayAvailability Over AbilityThe Search for SignificanceWhen God Sets Up the MomentExplain the Hope Within YouThe Gospel Starts Where People AreSalt Has to Leave the ShakerWhat Defines You Determines YouYou’re Richer Than You RealizeThe Quiet Sin No One ConfessesYou Can’t Serve Two MastersThe Token That Stopped Spending
February
A Prophetic EarLearning the Voice You Hear Every DayAdopted, Not ToleratedThe Same Spirit Lives in YouWhy Jesus Chose DependenceExisting Versus Truly LivingWhen God Interrupts Your RoutineConviction Calls You Up, Not OutHe Who Gets the Son Gets It AllLet the Word Get in YouThe Book You Never FinishWhen You Finally Taste What’s BetterGod Is Speaking Every Time You Open the BibleFreedom Comes from Knowing the TruthThe Holy Spirit Works with What You StoreYou Might Be the Only Bible They ReadThe Word You Read Today Might Be for Someone Else Tomorrow
2025
January
Why Me?Ordinary but ChosenYour Past Prepares You for God's FutureWhy Not Me?The Burden of PreparationIt’s Bigger Than YouJust Show UpAnchored in PrayerBreakthrough Was Always God's PlanWaiting on Your BreakthroughTransformative Power of PrayerThe Art of PrayerThe God of BreakthroughKryptoniteLifelineThe Dare of DependenceWho Needs Your Prayers?Soaring in PrayerObedience Through PrayerThe Power of Prayer in Overcoming TemptationIs Your Heart Prepared for God's Mighty Work?The Joy of SimplicityPatient in Affliction, Faithful in PrayerBurning PrayersWhile You Wait...He WorksChoosing His Will with Free WillEquipped for Victory: Overcoming Sin from WithinEverydayThe Great I AMSaying Yes to GodOrdinary People, Extraordinary God
February
Freedom from LabelsFaithful Before the AppointmentLabels Don’t Define YouPut Off the ArmorRun Your Own RaceA Champion, Not a ContestantThe Story’s Not OverWhat Really MattersWinning the Battle WithinYou Are Positioned for a PurposeYour Worth Is SetYou Are EnoughTake Off the MaskOn Purpose, For a PurposeKnown. Loved. Enough.What Are You Afraid of Losing?What Are You Trying to Hide?What Are You Still Trying to Prove?What Are You Chasing?Stop Faking ItAre You Living in Fear?
1 Comment
I sure did struggle these past two weeks. Dealing with someone that really really aggravated me. I haven’t had to deal with someone like that in a very long time. Reminded of times when I would take any job I could just to make it by and had to deal with controlling hot heads just to be able to get by. I’m glad it’s over. I’m not proud of the way it affected me. I got very angry. God got me through it though and I didn’t hurt anyone. It’s so good to be home with my family again. I love you guys. Thank you Pastor Ed.