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“That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” – 2 Corinthians 4:16-18.
Real estate flipping in Florida is a cottage industry. The Sunshine State is fertile ground for investors looking for the promise of profit by revitalizing properties. The objective is to buy a piece of property that is run down and seemingly without much value to most people. The real estate developer sees past what it is to what it could be once the process of renovation, refurbishing, or complete rebuilding takes place.
So it is with God and us. God is in the renewal business, not with buildings but with the heart. Renewal is a transformative process that Christians embark upon to rejuvenate their spiritual lives. It is not a one-time event but an ongoing journey of transformation and growth in the Christian faith.
We all tend to go through times of spiritual fear, sourness, and staleness. We need renewal. The good news is we can expect it. The Bible promises this to us: that when we are spiritually dry or defeated, God will give us the answer to our dryness and defeat.
Psalm 103:1-5 (ESV):“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
All of us do get weary. But they who wait upon the Lord shall renew, exchange, or regain their strength. He exchanges our weakness for His strength. In the place of our difficulties and inabilities, He puts His abilities. In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul is talking about all he has suffered for them and what he went through for them, but he said, “It’s worth it.” He did go through a lot, and he talked about the difficulties he met, and then in verse 16, he says: “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.”
For Abraham, the place of renewal was Bethel, where he “built another altar and dedicated it to the LORD, and he worshiped the LORD” (Genesis 12:8). For Moses and the Israelites, it was the tabernacle in the wilderness, where God’s glory rested. For the 12 disciples, it was their frequent meetings with Jesus.
We all need such times and places of renewal when our morale and vision are reignited and our spiritual batteries are recharged. God has an incredible plan for renewal in your life. He knows the trials, circumstances, and people that wear you down better than anyone. And He knows that you need time to be refreshed by Him. We can seek rest and renewal from many different outlets, but the only consistent and true source of renewal is God.
Discussion Questions:
- Why do you think renewal is essential?