Living in God's Renewal

Despite my desire to keep December from being too busy, I tried to do too much and neglected to take time to care for myself, to give my spirit the rest it needed. And so I find myself now in January, on the far side of vacations, holidays and celebrations, feeling a desperate need to experience God's renewal, desiring restoration of my spirit. Not surprisingly, this need coincides with a busy new season, full of to do lists, resolutions, beginnings and commitments. A time in which it would be far too easy to continue in the path December created. And yet a time in which I feel I have been given special Grace to make the changes and new beginnings needed in my life.

January has never before seemed like such a fresh start for me. However, as I am becoming more comfortable and familiar with my new environment and having a few months of married life under my belt, I am more easily able to tune in with where I am and where life is headed. I am able to see areas where I am missing the mark, areas that need change if they are to reflect the life I've been called to live.

Because I like to do things rather than sit around and talk about them, most of the things I aim to accomplish are specific projects - things that have an ending point, that I know when I've achieved it. But living in God's renewal, letting Him restore my spirit is an ongoing process and its not a clearly defined one at that; it will not happen the same way every time. It requires me to be alert and in tune with God to see when and where He is seeking to bring His renewal to my heart. It requires that I slow down and create an atmosphere of quietness to be able to receive from Him. Yet the rewards will be great for I am promised that "In repentance and rest is [my] salvation, in quietness and trust is [my] strength." Isiah 30:15