My Spring thoughts: God wants to do something 'new' in us every day!


It's Spring time here in Australia! 

If you're like me (and most people) you love spring! Although I do empathise with those that suffer from hay fever and know you may have a love-hate relationship with it :) 

I thought and pondered on that this morning, God showed me that the Bible mentions 'new' many many times in the context of God and His work in our lives.

Spring is the season of 'new' isn't it! The first signs of weather warming up, the birds are active again, including our favourite Willie Wagtail that makes the most beautiful sounds,  trees that lay bare over winter are starting to grow leaves once again, beautiful flowers in bloom everywhere, the air is fresh etc.

These are some of what the Bible says about 'new' : in Christ, we are made new creations, He gives us a new heart and a new spirit, His mercies are new every morning, we are to sing new songs to Him, we gain new strength as we wait on Him, and He promises to do new things in our lives!

The word 'new' usually brings excitement to us whether it's a new house, a new car, new clothes etc. And when we hear that God wants to do something new in our lives, we usually are excited and joyful in anticipation. Yet, the process of doing something 'new' can also involve pain and hardship. 

When God wants to transform us, it involves the pain of dying to self and sinful habits and embracing God's character. When He wants to do something new in our lives, it may mean the pain and loss of the old and comfortable ways in order to embrace the new.  It could also mean the pain of facing our past hurts and trauma and allowing Him to heal them in order to create newness of life in us. It may even feel like winter in your heart. 

I'd like to encourage you today and this month, as you ponder the newness of Spring, to allow God to work out new things in your life no matter how you feel right now.  2 Corinthians 4:16 says 'So do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed (or made new) day by day'.

God wants to do something new in us every single day. This usually happens as we spend time with Him in prayer and meditate on His word. 

Let's use this month to focus on what God wants to do on the inside of us, which is far more important than what's happening on the outside which may be quite challenging for many of us right now. Amidst the pandemic caused by Covid 19, God is wanting, not only to alleviate the sickness, but to work in our hearts and lives. So, even if you feel like winter on the inside, if you'll allow God to work in your heart, you'll soon be enjoying the newness of your spring. 

(From a prayer email sent to my church today)

Image from Unsplash free images, by Perica Oreskovic.



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