Renewing Your Strength

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I don't know about you, but in recent days I have been feeling just simply worn out! You know, the feeling... hours and days pass by with a continuing list of "to-do's" that never seem to get done. Everything including my personal devotional time and efforts for God become cumbersome... like pushing a big boulder up a hill. Absolutely nothing seems to go smoothly, and I find myself weary and wanting to simply give up. Are you with me?

During these times, it's easy say, "well, that's life" and just try to suffer through it, but the Bible tells us life shouldn't be that way for us. Actually, the Bible gives us a clear prescription for "renewed strength" and all we have to do is follow it to the letter.

"...but those who hope in the LORD

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint." - Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

Oooh! Renewed strength, soaring like eagles, running and walking without getting weary or faint -- that's just what I need, but what do I have to do to experience those? The passage is clear: HOPE in the LORD.

But what does it mean to "HOPE in the LORD". Other Bible Translations describe it in these ways: "wait on the Lord", "trust in the Lord", "look for the Lord", "expect the Lord [to act]", etc. In other words, to find the renewed strength we desire it's very simple. We need to let go of whatever boulder we think we're in charge of and surrender it completely to God. Not in part, not in words only, but completely.

The truth is, the boulders we push are not organic... they're made by our own two hands. We can make boulders out of all kinds of things including our jobs, our children, our relationships, our church programs and yes, even our spiritual life. But the Bible says that if we surrender them to God and earnestly seek his will through prayer and fasting, he will relieve our burdens and renew our strength.

So, if you.. like me... have been carrying some heavy boulders recently, I hope you too will surrender them to God today.

Prayer:

Lord, I'm am so weary. I have been trying so hard control things in my life especially around ________________. I realize that only you are truly in control of this situation and that only you can bring peace in the midst of it. I surrender this situation totally to you today, Lord, and I just pray that you would be glorified in and through it. Guide me in the path you would have me go, and renew my strength in you.

In Jesus' name. Amen.