Renewed

   Today is Friday; another week has passed and another weekend is before us. What a gift it is to be able to have a couple days to refuel and refresh before going into another week. This day is absolutely beautiful. God continues to amaze me through the beauty of His creation. As I am writing this, I'm on the fourth floor of one of the buildings here on campus; overlooking the snow covered grounds below. My school is located on a lake and with the weather being as cold as it is the lake is frozen and snow-covered. The sun is shining down brightly on it, making the whole scene sparkle. There is no way to look at a scene like this and doubt that there is a God. His fingerprints are all over it. It is absolutely breathtaking. 

   This morning, we had praise chapel. I always look forward to that time each week to be able to put all other tasks and distractions aside to be able to truly worship my King. I have always enjoyed singing and worship, but throughout the past year, especially, I have realized how powerful worship is. It's not just singing melodies and harmonies; it's a time of surrender and complete adoration for my Lord. The work done in me is truly amazing. It's not just about which song we're singing; it's about the message and the meaning of the words. It's not about me and my worries, but what God has done to overcome them. It's not about worrying about what the people around me are doing, but about a time of focus, just between God and me. 

   As I was singing this morning, I felt God reassuring me that I am renewed in Him. The world has a way of distracting us and bringing us down. We are easily weighed down by burdens and past mistakes, but God has redeemed us from them all. When we say we are new in Christ, yet dwell on past hurts or sulk in bitterness, we are denying that what God said is true. He has completely forgiven us for all of our sins and struggles, past, present, and future. He has not only forgiven us, but has also removed our sin from us, as far as the east is from the west. He asks us to live in His light, with a renewed spirit and heart. 

   God overwhelms me with His mercy and grace every day. Each day, we can live in such a way that others won't be able to help but notice that something is different in us. We won't be weighed down by the ways of the world, but instead have faith in what is unseen and will continue on this journey in step with our Creator until we are called home. We are a new creation in Him. Each of us has a specific purpose to fulfill that no one else can. God created us each unique and desires for all of us to experience renewal in Him.