A brand new day

Personal Photo: We are spending Memorial Day weekend in Tennessee and everything seems to slow down while we are here. It has helped me put in perspective how important it is that we take a break from our routines in order to find God in different places and in different ways :)

Happy Memorial Day Weekend! I hope everyone stays safe with the travels and celebrations. With the holiday this weekend, it seems as though most people are coming together with their loved ones to enjoy the extra day off work and make the most of the break. Even I took a day and half off work in order to take a breather, enjoy the sunshine, and run away from my day to day. Oh yes, our day to day. I often talk about our day to day; what can change with the help of the Lord, why it is so important that we consider our daily routines when we yearn to grow, change, and become better children of God. Really, our routines help us stay on task, prioritize our most important items, and help keep us healthy. I have always craved routine when it comes to most aspects of my life: work, hobbies, normal maintenance, and so on. However, routine can sometimes become suffocating to us. I think this weekend is a perfect example of how valuable breaking our routines can be. My mom mentioned this a few weeks ago, wording it in a way that stuck with me. She said that there is a big difference between sticking to your routine and finding yourself in a rut. When we consider how we might actually not be appreciating our routine, but instead we are going through the motions, not focusing or paying much mind to what we are doing, it can help put into perspective the importance of refreshing ourselves and re-evaluating our goals.

When we consider routines in relation to our faith, we find that our faith is no different. When we lose our passion for faith, it can be a dangerous place to find ourselves in. Finding ourselves complacent with our faith can be challenging, and something we truly strive to avoid. Our day to day can become mundane, our routines can become muscle memory, and the things we used to do for comfort and peace might become distracted and unsatisfactory. Why do we find ourselves in a rut, rather than a routine? Well, we become exhausted, we fail to evaluate progress towards our growth daily, we cannot seem to ever reach the goals we set, and more. These are just a few examples as to how we can become so overwhelmed with seasons of life, portions of the journey we are on, or confused about the direction we should take. When we feel this way, what we really need is inspiration; we need to feel inspired to set new goals, to find new energy, to bring new passion to our day to day. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 states “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen, but to the things that are unseen.” When we consider how we might be losing our zest and passion for practicing our faith, this verse can bring some inspiration. We are directly told in this verse to have faith, to never give up, and to focus on the promise of everlasting life with Christ. I think quite often we tend to focus on the here and now, the day we are in, the step we are taking, the way we feel right now. And while I am 100% supportive of living in the present, I think also that there is a heavy importance in looking to our future with Christ. Our eternity with God Himself, praising Him, giving Him glory, and so much more, can help us with our here and now, which is exactly what this 2 Corinthians verse is telling us to do. Even though we can become disheartened, challenged, exhausted, and discouraged, when we focus on the renewal of Christ, we have the chance to stay motivated, stay positive, and stay inspired.

Renewal of our inspiration can only come from one place: God. Spending time with God, being with His word, with His creations, and appreciating His hand in everything we see. God renews our spirit, our hearts, our motivations when we come to Him because He loves us. We are told in Lamentations 3:22-23 that “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Every single day is a brand new day. And this is why I wanted to tackle the concept of breaking our routines. We need to break our routines in order to find renewal. We cannot expect things in our life to change without changing ourselves. It starts inside of us, it starts with the Holy Spirit. It starts with accepting the fresh and renewed love and mercy of God every single day.

Renewal from the Lord comes fresh every single day, and it makes our day to day completely new; it shakes up our routines, it creates in us a desire to grow, a disdain for complacency, and therefore, we are able to follow the Lord wherever He calls us to go. Ruts can snuff out our faith, remove the power to be a direct line between those we interact with and the Lord, and we get lost in the shuffle. My dad says that if you are coasting through life, you’re falling. This is why we need to really consider our day to day, seek the Lord, and remember where we can find inspiration. Isaiah 40:31 states that “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.” This verse squashes any discouragement we might face when we find ourselves in a rut. There is no hesitation when it comes to God. He is going to be with us for every step, ready to strengthen us when we are weak, guide us when we are lost, and renew us when we are disheartened and going through the motions. When we are craving inspiration, needing a direction to our lives, and hunting for a way to reignite our passion for faith, God able to bring it to us, guide us on how to keep it alive, and continue to renew us daily.

2 Corinthians 5:17 reminds us that “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Newness comes with abandoning our routines. When we leave behind the things that we have worn out, that no longer fit, that do not keep our faith fresh and renewed, we have the chance to allow God to make us new again. As He renews us every day, He can change our hearts, make us better children of Christ, and bring to us a peace and inspiration that can only come from Him. There is value in newness, just as there is value in routine. They find harmony when we come to God daily and welcome His hand working in our hearts.

The Lord welcomes us to Him anytime, and all the time. In this way, we can find our inspiration through His hand working in our lives. Deuteronomy 31:6 tells us “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” This verse reminds us that God is the source of our strength, He is where we are to go when we find ourselves in a rut, and He will never abandon us when we are lost or disheartened. Passion and inspiration are found at the base of the cross, and when we seek Him, we are rewarded with the renewal of our hearts and minds, and yearning for growth towards Him, and an empowerment that can change the world. Shaking up our routines, breaking out of our habits, and searching for His light to show us where to go and how to get there all bring us directly to the Lord. It is a brand new day, every single day, my friends!