Psalm 51:10(KJV)
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
For some, this past year was full of wonderful surprises and the accomplishment of many goals. For others, it might have been difficult and painful, full of unexpected challenges. Whatever the case, the new year presents an opportunity for renewal. It can be a time of learning to lean on God more, so that our strength is renewed and our faith in Him is increased. We may not want to admit it, but there are things in all our lives that hold us back and keep us from fully embracing all that God has in store. Praying like the psalmist did in Psalm 51:10 conveys the kind of humility that pleases our Heavenly Father, and it’s a good start to re-prioritizing and renewing our commitment to greater spiritual growth and blessings.
Jesus Christ told his disciples in John 16:33(NLT), “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” Our powerful Lord was very clear that the earth experience can be very challenging. Christians are not exempt from trials and tribulations, as most of us can attest. The times in which we live are increasingly perilous. So, it’s not just pressure in our own lives, but it’s all around us. You may be feeling exhausted from it all, but Jesus tells us in John 16:33 to take heart. This means that we are to be courageous.
If we focus on our own ability or look to someone’s strength, we might find it very difficult to summon courage, but this isn’t what our Lord and Savior is telling us to do in this verse. The victory he achieved through his life, sacrifice, and resurrection overshadows any other. His victory is our victory, and it will overcome any and all troubles. This is where our focus must be. 1John 5:4(NLT) tells us, “For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.” We must have faith in the victory that Jesus Christ won for us, but many of us are allowing the world to zap our strength and steal our joy. We can prevent this, and we should.
Isaiah 40:31 (NLT) “But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” This overwhelmingly comforting verse tells us about the empowerment of God when we trust in Him. On our own, our resources are extremely limited, but Jesus Christ tells us in Matthew 19:26 that with God, all things are possible! He can show us reservoirs and resources within ourselves that we’ve never tapped. He can strengthen what seems weak to us and stretch what appears to human eyes to be exhausted.
1John 1:5(NLT) boldly tells us, “This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all.” The dark forces in the world want to keep us in a dreary place and snuff out our hope. We can’t allow that to happen, and the way to prevent it is to trust in God. Things make look bleak, and we may feel like our strength is gone, but we can be renewed with vitality when our faith is firmly planted in Him. He wants our lives to be full of His light, and to walk in His light, we can’t allow our emotions or the world to dictate our reality. God’s Word is the truth, and we must believe what He says above all else. As you pray and seek His forgiveness and love, He will give you renewed strength. So, open your heart wider to the Lord Jesus Christ. You will witness his amazing grace when you give all your cares to him. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
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