I ask you this question today because it's something I'm asking myself. What will a renewal mean to me? What will change in me if I commit to a renewal? I suspect, because we are human, we will always be striving towards something more. That's not a bad thing. This can motivate us to better attitudes and healthier eating habits and lots of good things. But, sometimes it can make us feel defeated because we're looking for a perfection that we can't ever seem to fully reach. It's a broken world, after all, so it's hard to find perfection among brokenness.
And yet, there's something better to be found than perfection. I think it might be peace, and I don't know about you, but I could use more of that. See, if I'm striving for perfection, then 1) I'm always going to fail, because, well, despite my best efforts (and yours too) we're not perfect. (Dreams dashed, so sorry!) and 2) because of these constant shortcomings I'm never going to experience peace.
Now, here's the thing with peace. I can't just strive for peace. I don't think I'll find it if that's where my eyes are fixed. I believe that peace can only come through my belief in God.
I've been reading in Hebrews, and in chapter 3 verse 19 it says, "So we see that because of their unbelief they were not able to enter his rest." But it goes on to say in Chapter 4, "God's promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it. For this good news- that God has prepared this rest- has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn't share the faith of those who listened to God. For only we who believe can enter his rest..." Another version replaces "tremble with fear" with the words "we must take care that none of you miss out."
When I look at the world around me and when I look at things that are negatively affecting my family and my friends, I see unrest. I see it in my life when I take my eyes off of God. And I don't want to miss out on this rest. I don't want you to miss out on this rest. And, I really don't want others to miss out on this rest because I have failed to show them that even in the storm there can still be peace.
So, for me, renewal means rest. Renewal means peace. Renewal means that I have faith to trust in God's words, even when I cannot see what is ahead. But, that's my renewal. God may have something completely different in mind for you. That's what is great about serving a LIVING GOD. He knows all of our needs at all times.
I pray that God gives me faith to trust what He says is true. And I pray that I find peace when I believe that truth.
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