The Grace of Renewal
by Margaret D. Mitchell
January 12, 2020
Psalm 103:3-5 AMP tells us, "Who forgives all your sins, Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you [lavishly] with lovingkindness and tender mercy; Who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the [soaring] eagle."
Friends, these verses are talking about our Lord, God, who desires we experience His renewal, which is to gain something beyond what is former. In other words, The Lord desires that we receive something better and something higher than we have previously known.
As we move into 2020, this could mean many things. Who else can know all of the blessings God has for us at the outset, especially since we live from the inside out?
For we Christians, who are spiritually born again by grace, this exit from the old and entrance into the new means that God progressively transforms us into His likeness internally—from darkness into His marvelous light—with the added benefit of His manifest promises (2 Cor. 4:16).
I like how Webster’s defines renew. It means:
- RESTORE: To freshness, vigor, or perfection. To make like new.
- REGENERATE: To make new spiritually.
- a. REVIVE: To restore to existence.
b. REBUILD: To make extensive changes in.
- REPEAT: To do again.
- RESUME: To begin again.
- REPLACE and to REPLENISH.
Webster’s also says that renewal "implies a resurrection and restoration of what had become faded or disintegrated..."
Of course, we know that God makes all things new. So, the beauty of the renewal process is that God doesn’t leave us where we are, but He fills our soul with more of His radiance, His power and His strength as we go.
If necessary, Holy Spirit will even shine His light on the parts of our soul that have stopped believing and lost hope, the parts that are no longer “integrated” with His truth. If this happens, He will lead us to repentance, and bring those fragments into the wholeness of life-union with Him to rebuild the faith He gave us in our soul.
As we come near to Him, He comes near to us with His Presence and revelation-understanding—the truth that sets us free.
Psalm 51:6 TPT says, "I know that you delight to set your truth deep in my spirit. So come into the hidden places of my heart and teach me wisdom."
Friends, this is one of the best invitations we can extend to our Lord.
Colossians 3:10 TPT assures us, "For you have acquired new creation life which is continually being renewed into the likeness of the One who created you; giving you the full revelation of God."
As we follow Him into the secret place, The Spirit of Revelation, who is The Holy Spirit, helps us with the part of renewal that is repetition, which is the process of maturity, meaning the daily renewing of the mind with His Word, His perspective, and the restoration of His character.
Colossians 2:3 reveals, "For our spiritual wealth is in him, like hidden treasure waiting to be discovered—heaven’s wisdom and endless riches of revelation knowledge."
So, God regenerates our spirit, revives our heart, restores our foundation of belief. He propels us forward and offers us more than we had before.
To live this authentic life of abundance is to live a resurrected life on earth as it is in Heaven. And it requires an ongoing, intimate fellowship with our Lord.
Even when it feels difficult.
Jesus understood this when He walked on earth in person:
One example is in John 10 when the leaders, who falsely-accused Jesus, tried to seize and stone Him. Confronted with these threats, Jesus declared truth and life. He said that He was in The Father and that The Father was in Him (vs. 38).
Then Jesus “went back to the place where John had baptized Him” (vs. 40).
So, you see here that Jesus Himself spoke truth and then returned to the place of new life in the face of captivity and death.
He didn’t get stuck in a bad place, and He didn’t even entertain stubbornness. He certainly didn’t get ensnared in strife.
Instead, Jesus remained in sync with the power of God and miraculously escaped the enemy’s attack. And He headed back to His new beginning—the cross point and centrifuge of true captivation, which is the Presence of Holy Spirit, who refreshes us.
Also, in John 10, as a result of Jesus’ walk, many people followed Him and believed (vss. 41-42).
Friends, God draws people toward His miracle of salvation and renewed life.
Are you willing to follow Him into new life, which is your best life?
He’s waiting for you.
Hebrews 10:19 TPT confirms this by saying, “And now we are brothers and sisters in God’s family because of the blood of Jesus, and he welcomes us to come into the most holy sanctuary in the heavenly realm—boldly and without hesitation.”
Friends, this is our inheritance.
God never leaves us or forsakes us. Even in the face of giants, the deliverance of spiritual renewal involves a continual process that strengthens our soul in The Lord. God faithfully guards us through this process to bring His faithful promises to fruition for us and through us. All for His glory.
Therefore, we mustn’t get discouraged by what we see in our circumstances. But rather trust God at His timing and ways, which are true to His character and plan for our lives.
Isaiah 40:31 TPT instructs us in regards to His strategy to keep us strong in Him. It says, “But those who wait for Yahweh’s grace will experience divine strength. They will rise up on soaring wings and fly like eagles, run their race without growing weary, and walk through life without giving up.”
I like how one of the endnotes (c) for this verse in the TPT version references not giving up. It says, "The outer court is where we walk, the Holy Place is where we run, and we soar like eagles (into the heavenly realm) in the Holy of Holies."
Don’t you love that?!
Friends, God is inviting us to soar with Him in this new year, this new season, and this new era.
Let us come near to Him in the most intimate place and receive His revelation and wisdom. Let’s obey His leading and submit our hearts to Him fully, allowing Him to renew us however He sees fit along the way. Let’s experience His abundance in new ways and on new levels as He helps us overcome our limitations by His grace that empowers us to soar.
Ephesians 4:23 TPT tells us, "Now it’s time to be made new by every revelation that’s been given to you.”
Friends, I pray The Lord’s finest blessings to you in every facet of your life in this new year and beyond.
To God be the glory!
Happy 2020!
Margaret D. Mitchell is the Founder of God's Love at Work, a marketplace outreach purposed to share God's greatest power source - the love of Christ.
Originally published Sunday, 12 January 2020.
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