Friday, November 11, 2011

Renewed!

Have you ever wanted a “do over?” Unfortunately, we can’t take back ugly words spoken in anger and haste, nor can we wipe from history’s pages mistakes we’ve made and hurts or wrongs we’ve inflicted in the process. Time and opportunities lost can never be bought back.

But our God is a God of second, and third, and seventy times seven chances (Matthew 18: 21-22). The moment we put our faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the only way to salvation, we became a new creation in Him (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15). This change is so dramatic that Jesus spoke of it as being born again (John 3: 3-8).

With His grace, we can start over every time we repent of our sins and ask Him for forgiveness. We can put behind us mistakes of the past and reach forward to our brilliant future (Philippians 3:12-14) as His children and ambassadors. He can wash away our sins, turn our sorrow into joy and praise, and renew a right spirit within us (Psalm 30; Psalm 51).

He divided time into day and night (Genesis 1:5), so that we could remember not to carry over hurts, grudges, or anger into the next day (Ephesians 4:26). We can cast our cares on Him (1 Peter 5:7) each night as our head sinks into the pillow, and we can praise His name each morning as we realize that His love is as faithful as the sunrise. Each day is His special gift to us, worthy of rejoicing over (Psalm 118:24), and His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Meditating on His Word is the perfect way to renew our mind (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:23). Rather than letting the world dictate what we think and how we act, we can keep our eyes fixed on Him and focus on His light, love and goodness (Phil. 4:6-10). If we ask Him to, He will align our mind more and more with the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16), being conformed to His image even if through sufferings (Phil. 3: 9-10).

Like Paul, we should be torn between the desire to be here on earth with our loved ones, serving them and others while we seek to do God’s will, and the desire to trade in this ailing body and corrupted heart for the glorified, sinless being that awaits us (Phil. 1: 20-24; 2 Corinthians 5: 1-8; Romans 8:18-23). Our ultimate renewal shall come in our holy new body, with our new name (Revelation 3:12), living eternally with Him in the new Jerusalem (Revelation 21:2).

Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

38 comments:

stefanie cunnington said...

Thanks for sharing - I do know what you mean, have often wished life had a rewind button:-)
Stefanie/NOBH

Laurie Collett said...

Thanks Stephanie, for your comment! Some days it seems like we're actually on fast forward! :-)
Blessings to you and your ministry!

Ian Curtis said...

Thanks for the reminder, and very well put. Yearning to have more of the mind of Christ and the selfless spirit that our Lord possessed is an aspiration for all Christians. Then again, going home and being rid of this sin nature forever sounds quite wonderful too...

Laurie Collett said...

Amen, Ian! The first aspiration will not be completely accomplished until the second is fulfilled, so God speed on the earthly journey, and come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Nadwrażliwiec said...

I want to forget about past. When I was unsaved teenager, I hurt big number of people. Some of them I apologised, but to many of them I don't have even phone number. Sometimes I pray about healing my mind from these past. Greetings and blessings for You.

Karen Kyle Ericson said...

Beautiful post! Each day is a new beginning. Jesus gives us fresh starts whenever we ask. He is so patient!

Jeff Bullard said...

A friend says "I want to go to heaven, just not right now."
Well, me too, mostly.
I am looking forward to the day that I can honestly say that I would rather be in heaven with him than on earth with him. Occasionally I have moments like this but, true to who I see myself as being, I enjoy the things of this world too much to stay in this thought very long.

Gods grace shared with us.

Thanks for the post. Needed.

Anonymous said...

Hi Laurie - I definitely feel a renewing of my mind when I spend time in God's word. Subtle, but a change nevertheless. Great post
God bless
Tracy

Laurie Collett said...

Dear Zim, Praise God that He has forgiven each of us for all our sins, past, present and future. He has washed us clean from every sin, and separated us from our sins as far as the east is from the west. It is a trick of Satan to remind us of the past and trap us in guilt. But we know he is a liar, because Jesus paid for our sins in full on the cross, and now believers are clothed in His righteousness. May you have a blessed week!

Laurie Collett said...

Dear Karen, Thanks for the kind words and comment! Praise God for His mercy, forgiveness, and patience!

Laurie Collett said...

Dear Jeff, Thanks for the thoughtful comment and for sharing your insight. I heard a pastor tell of a little boy whose parents told him that if he was sorry for his sins and trusted Jesus, he would go to heaven. He became very quiet and asked to go to his room. When his parents went to check on him, he was packing a suitcase. "I have trusted Jesus," he said. "Do you think they'll let me take my favorite PJs to heaven?"
Would that we all had the faith of a child in accepting God's perfect will for our eternal destiny. If we pray to be in His perfect will, we can trust Him to keep us on earth for as long as it takes for us to accomplish His purposes, and to take us home with His perfect timing. Personally, I'm praying for the Rapture to happen soon, and to be in the center of His perfect will in the meantime!
God's blessings to you!

Laurie Collett said...

Hi Tracy, Thanks for the comment! God's Word sustains and renews us spiritually just as food sustain s and renews us physically. If we deprive ourselves of His Word, that cuts off a major supply line of renewal, restoration and growth.
Love in Christ,
Laurie

a joyful noise said...

Each day is a new day and we although we remember things we wish we had not done - -
God has forgotten all about our sins that are under the Blood of Jesus. I praise Him for his longsuffering and grace that abounds to me!

Laurie Collett said...

Thanks, A Joyful Noise! Praise God for His endless patience, mercy to not give us the punishment in hell that we deserve, and grace to give us eternal life with Him that we don't deserve!

Pamela said...

Oh that we all could come with a rewind button. But I'm thankful for the renewing of my spirit. He's so patient with me.

Laurie Collett said...

Dear Pamela, Thanks for your comment! It is truly a blessing that His Word renews our mind and that His patience comforts and uplifts us.
May God bless you and your ministry!

Ruth said...

Great thoughts on the hope we have in our God! I especially liked these words, 'He divided time into day and night (Genesis 1:5), so that we could remember not to carry over hurts, grudges, or anger into the next day (Ephesians 4:26)' I had never thought about the blessing of day and night for that purpose. Thanks!
Blessings.

Laura said...

So, so thankful for grace today. and I'm so glad you linked up with Playdates!

Laurie Collett said...

Thanks, Ruth and Laura, for visiting and for your kind words and comments!
Love in Christ,
Laurie

Sportet said...

Visiting from Hear It On Sunday, and so looking forward to spending eternity face-to-face with our Savior, but also loving the work He has for me here now.

Manifest Blog

Laurie Collett said...

Amen, Stephen! Eternal, abundant life begins at the moment of salvation, with blessings in following Him in this world and the next. We are already seated in heavenly places! Thanks so much for visiting, commenting, and following!

Terésa Marie said...

So many amazing points that I haven't thought of before. Thank you!

Unknown said...

Right after my grandmother died, I felt the fullness of this tension!

Laurie Collett said...

Thanks, Teresa, for visiting and commenting, and for your kind words!

Laurie Collett said...

Thanks so much, Jen, for following Saved by Grace! That's an excellent point, that when a loved one in Christ goes home to be in the Lord, we long to follow, but we know that they would want us to continue to fulfill His will for our earthly life.
Blessings to you and your ministry!

Petra said...

Thank you for another encouraging post. Blessings!

Laurie Collett said...

You're very welcome, Petra1 Thanks for your comment, and blessings to you too!

Larri said...

Lovely post. Thank you for sharing your heart and His word. Happy Wednesday! ☺

Laurie Collett said...

Hi Larri! Thanks so much for visiting and commenting! Happy Wednesday to you too!

Charlotte said...

Thank you, Laurie, for sharing these helpful thoughts. I hope you're having a wonderful week.
Blessings,
Charlotte

Joan Hall said...

Hi Laurie - there is nothing like renewing our minds by the reading of God's word. It is the only way by which we are not conformed to the image of this world.

Blessings,
Joan

Laurie Collett said...

Dear Charlotte and Joan,
Thanks so much for the comments.

The more I hear of what the world teaches, the more I love my Bible!

May you both have a blessed weekend,
Laurie

Unknown said...

Yes, "do-overs"... lately that has been my daily wish!!! But alas, I know even in the ugly moments, God uses those to teach, refine and grow me!

Thanks for linking up in the Koinonia Community! :)

Laurie Collett said...

Hi Chelsey! How true, God uses our stumbles as teaching moments. Thanks so much for visiting and commenting, and may you have a blessed weekend!

Shanda said...

I'm so glad God is a God of second chances. He is the only God that is defined by grace.

Laurie Collett said...

Dear Shanda, That's so true! Our God is the only God of love and grace. Many gods, such as Allah, are portrayed as demanding, angry, and even fickle, but not loving or faithful.
Thanks so much for visiting and commenting even as you are recovering - I'm praying for rapid & complete healing!

Nikki (Sarah) said...

Thanks for the encouragement...

Laurie Collett said...

Dear Sarah, You're very welcome, and may you have a blessed week!
Laurie