There are times in our lives when we just feel beaten down. Weary from the trials in this life. Or, perhaps, maybe you have allowed yourself to grow cold to the things of God. (Or to the people of God!) There is good news. His mercy, compassion, and faithfulness is new every morning. Each day is another chance to renew some things and start again in our lives. If you are still breathing there is hope. Hope for a better day. Hope for a closer walk with Him. Hope to restore a friendship or marriage.
Some things that the Bible says can be renewed:
- A right spirit – It has to start here. Before any other areas of our lives can get “straightened out”, our spirit must be right with God. Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
- Strength – This applies to spiritual and physical strength. Pray for healing – for your heart, or for your body. God is still the greatest physician. He still can do miracles that defy human understanding. Never stop praying. Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Pertaining to physical strength.) 2 Corinthians 4:16 “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” (Spiritual strength.)
- Your desire to serve Him – It is too easy to get burned out. To get stuck in a rut. To allow others to steal our joy, and rob us of the fire we once had in our ministry. The key is to not worry about others. (Harder than it sounds.) And to only keep your focus on Jesus. Lamentations 5:20 “Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.”
- Your mind – The way we think about things needs to stay positive. You can really get in your own head if you aren’t careful. It is only with God’s help that we can maintain a right mindset, and right viewpoint about things around us. Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
- Your joy – It has already been stated, but bears repeating: don’t let others steal your joy! Don’t let situations, and problems build in your life and cause you to have a troubled spirit. You are a child of God, take heart! Psalm 51:12 “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.”
What other areas can be renewed? This isn’t an exhaustive list. If you have a favorite verse, or even a story about how He has renewed an area of your life, share in the comments!
