October 23, 2012

Renewed

~Ephesians 4:22-24 ESV~
to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Life has been interesting lately.   I use the word interesting because it seems to be the only word broad enough to encompass everything running through my mind.  I struggle with relationships, and sometimes a misunderstanding of what true friendship is.  I struggle with busyness and filling my life with things that are, in my eyes, important.  I struggle with wanting to be abundantly successful at everything I do.  With friends, I often find satisfaction in completion instead of quality. - "Well I did this, for this friend... that's good enough right? Yeah okay."  These patterns are, to me, signs of my former manner of life.  They are all thoughts and actions that scream out MY name, not Gods.  It is so easy to let selfishness creep into my life and forget that selfishness is the foundation of sin.  It brings forth what my hard heart desires, and chokes out the only source of light, being fed into my life.  I am ready to be renewed.

I think it is important for me to ask myself what it really looks like to be renewed in my life right now.  In the verse above it shows us that when we are renewed, we live in our new self which is created after God's righteousness and holiness.  Before stating that, it says we must be renewed in the spirit of your mind.  THAT is what I need right now.  Sometimes I let myself forget that I am a broken and messed up human being who's original nature is set on opposing God.  My life is set on opposing God because I strive to nurture my own desires, instead of His.  I am ready to be broken before God so that, my mind can be renewed, so that I may reflect the true nature of God's righteousness and holiness, and so that I can experience true freedom and purpose that only comes through the redeeming power of Jesus Christ.

When I see the world through Christ's sacrifice, I am humbled and optimistic about God's plan for my life. By seeing the importance of my circumstances, I discover the vital piece that they play in changing who I am, in hopes of changing the hurting world around me.  I may struggle with relationships, but I have a relationship with the living God who's love never stops being poured out upon me.  That realization gives me strength to love my friends in a NEW way.  It motivates me to give more to the people in my life, when I remember that God has given me everything.  I no longer find satisfaction in completion, but instead, by listening to the Holy Spirit when He says go there or, rest now.  I no longer find happiness in success, because I realize that the only reason I am able to know a perfect God is because of His perfect sacrifice for me.  I don't NEED to be successful when Christ has already given me overwhelming victory over circumstances and over my sin.

Thank you God for renewing my life today and everyday.

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