The astounding beauty of bursting buds, fragrant flowers, and vibrant green surrounds us at every turn. Winter's doldrums and drabness are quite literally overwhelmed with new life and lovely colors. It's a glorious symphony for the senses.
But if you ask me, one of the greatest treasures bestowed by spring is her giant finger pointing to our God of Resurrection. Our God of second, third...and fiftieth chances. Our God of fresh starts and new beginnings. Oh thank You, Father.
It's just been one of those weeks where I allowed my circumstances to dictate my spirits. So many ultimately silly, superficial things got me "down and out." And boy, discouragement not only keeps you self-focused and self-preoccupied (never, ever a good thing!), but it anesthetizes you to God's goodness and faithfulness. In fact, discouragement makes us into amnesiacs: we forget how good and great and gracious our Almighty God is. We forget Him. We forget His gifts. We forget His omnipotence. We forget His love. We forget His forgiveness. And we forget His Word...and worship...and thankfulness.
That's where I'd momentarily landed...until my good, good Father reminded me--through His Word and through His springtime world--to return to Him and start afresh. Begin anew. And find new life and renewed hope.
Sometimes, it's simply a matter, like the prodigal son, of turning back toward home. Heading back toward Your Heavenly Father.
Put down the to-do list and open up the Word. Shut down the negative self chatter in your mind and replace it with God's Truth. Kneel in repentance and prayer rather than indulge in worry and self-pity.
Choose to abide in the Word so you can think rightly.
Here's how the Scriptures put it: "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me." (John 15:4) And "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom." (Col.3:16) And "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind that by testing, you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Rom.12:2)
If you want your mind--and thus, your thoughts--renewed and revived, then you must be transformed by the Word. Meaning: open it up and spend time in it.
Yep, gotta abide in the Word, so we can think rightly. Because it all, all, all begins in our thoughts. And we have the daily choice--will we allowed our thoughts to be shaped by our circumstances or by God's Truth? Will our thoughts be controlled by the world or the Word?
John Stott put it this way: "Sow a thought, reap an action. Sow an action, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a character. Sow a character, reap a destiny."
Today, right this very minute, is the perfect time to start anew! As Francis de Sales said, "There is no better means of progress in the spiritual life [or in any aspect of life whatsoever!] than to be continually beginning afresh."
Begin now! Start fresh reaping a destiny by sowing a thought...a thought born, nurtured and strengthened by the redeeming, reviving, renewing Word of God.
To God--the Lord of ever-new beginnings and resurrection life--be all the glory.
No comments:
Post a Comment