“Renew”
By Mother Patricia G. Mayes
Posted: 4:49p.m .est, July 29, 2008

Mother Patricia G. Mayes

How many times do we dream of starting over? Do we sometimes feel that it’s impossible to renew our lives or have a new beginning? A new beginning is our only hope. Paul said in 2nd Corinthians, the 4th chapter and the 16th verse, that though our outward man perishes, the inward man is renewed day by day. To be renewed is to be in Christ, for Paul also said in 2nd Corinthians, the 5th chapter and the 17th verse that “therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new”.

 

I’m reminded of Nathan’s conversation with David, after David had gone to Bathsheba. Nathan told David the story of the rich man and the poor man. The poor man owned nothing but a lamb, and the rich man had everything. A traveler stopped by and instead of the rich man taking his own livestock to feed the traveler, he took the poor man’s only lamb. After hearing the story, David was angry and said to Nathan, “who did that?” “He shall surely die”. Nathan said to David, “it was you”. He told David that God said he delivered him from Saul; he anointed him king over Israel; did many other things, but David killed Uriah and took
his wife.

 

But in the 51st chapter of Psalm, David cried out to God. He said “purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow”. In other words, he wanted a new beginning; he wanted to be renewed. In order to be renewed, our hearts and minds must change. When we have God in our hearts, we’re sincere and we’re kind. With God also on our minds, we can think clearly and not get caught up in this world.

 

I want to share with you the keys to become renewed in the Lord. First, we must pray; read our bibles, go to church and believe. Then, we must surrender to God’s authority. We must admit that we can’t handle life without Him. Let God mold us and shape us. Let God be the potter and we be the clay.

 

In Jeremiah 18, verses 4 through 6, a potter made a vessel from clay, but it didn’t come out right, so he made another vessel. The Lord spoke and said “O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as the potter? Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel”.

 

Then we must confess that we have sinned and ask God’s direction. In Psalm 139, verses 23 and 24, David said “search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting”. Confessing and asking for help is good for the soul. Solomon said (Proverbs 28, verse 13) he that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

 

We must take responsibility for our wrong. Don’t blame someone else. Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent; but the soul is the seat of man’s emotions, and our emotions are in our minds. Emotions can run wild, leaving us like Adam and Eve. But if we bring our emotions under the power of Christ, we’ll begin to take responsibility for our minds. Romans 12, verse 2 says be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 

We must forgive. Unforgiveness can lead to anger, depression, sickness and alienation from God. Jesus said in Matthew, the 6th chapter and the 14th verse that if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

 

We must also preserve our faith. We must keep our eyes and our minds on God. When we go through the storm, keep the words of Paul (2nd Corinthians 4:9) on our tongues: persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.

 

Everything that has been discussed, Jesus has already done.

 

•	Jesus surrendered: He surrendered to God when he said in Matthew 26, verse 42, “your will be done”.
•	Jesus confessed: He said in John 16, verse 7, “I tell you the truth”.
•	Jesus took responsibility: He said in John 17 and 4, “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do”.
•	Jesus forgave: In Luke 23, verse 34 he said, “Father, forgive them: for they know not what they do”.
•	Jesus was transformed: the book of Luke, the 2nd chapter, verse 52 says “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man”.
•	Then Jesus preserved the truth. He said in John 8, verse 29 that “He that sent me is with me. The father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please Him”.

 

If we do those things that please the Lord; if we die daily to the Lord and keep the faith, one day we will receive our final transformation; our final renewal. As Paul said in 1st Corinthians, (15:52); “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed”.

 

In Christian Love,