Renewed Within

6 Jul

“A new car is not going to change your life.”  ~ Monica Ali

It happens every time I think about getting a new car.  I engage in mental exercises, readying myself for the “big” purchase.  I would remind myself how old my car was, or how many miles it had on it, or the work that may have had to be done on it.  It may have still been a good car.  It may have ridden well.  Maybe it guzzled gas; but, other than that, it may have caused me little problems.

It might have come to the point, though, that I felt I needed to get something new so that I would be able to depend upon “my ride”.  When I would make the purchase, I felt like that teenager again with his new car, I was also thinking about something else as I drove it home:  it really did not make anything better.  I still had a means of transportation.  If anything, I had added a new obligation: car payments.

There are so many times that we think that “new is better”.  The new thing, while it may be a convenience for us, does not really change things in the long run.  My car would get its first dent.  It would require service of some kind.  It would lose its new car smell.  It would no longer look fresh, shiny, and new.

The externals are not what counts.  Where we need to be new and fresh is within ourselves.  What is deep within matters.  If you have a new car, new home, or new whatever, go ahead and enjoy it.  There is nothing wrong with that.  However, make sure that you do not become “old and musty” within.

The world needs to see good examples of Christ’s love.  We cannot be good examples if we allow ourselves to run down.  Renew yourself today.  Take a good chunk of time to reflect on all that is truly important.  Seek the Lord, find the Lord, and everything else that matters will fall in line.

FAITH ACTION:  Ask God to make you new within so that you may give Him glory as you give those around you inspiration.