Spiritual Growth Archives - Page 2 of 13

Sharla February 1, 2022

Declutter Your Soul: 5 Things to Throw Out

At the beginning of the year, we often tackle decluttering projects. But have you considered how to declutter your soul? Check out this article I wrote for iBelieve.com.

My husband often quips, “Any garbage day that my wife hasn’t put me out on the curb, I’m grateful. She loves to throw things out.”

While I would never try to get rid of my husband (he is one of the best things in my life!), I do take pleasure in cleaning my closets and clearing the clutter. Not that it’s always easy. I still struggle with getting rid of sentimental items like the prom dress from high school or practical garments like the sweater that kept me warm through many a cold winter. But once I’ve removed the things I no longer wear, I’m left with space. Space that helps me see the clothes I still own. Space that gives me a visual breather.

During this time of the year, many of us will set goals and make resolutions. Experts tell us that one of the top New Year’s resolutions is to get organized. So we pull everything out of closets and start to sort through the contents, throwing out what we no longer need in order to make room for what we do use, bringing a bit of order to our chaotic lives.

The new year is a wonderful time to take stock of our possessions and streamline our storage spaces. But what if we also took some time to pay attention to our hearts and declutter our souls? What do we have a tendency to hold onto that actually harms our relationships with God? What attitudes cram our hearts and crowd out peace and joy?

If you want to declutter your soul, consider throwing out these five things:

1. Sin

As humans, we are no strangers to sin. We all make mistakes. We all disobey God’s holy law.

I, for one, blurt out hurtful things in the heat of the moment. I rush through life, focused on my own needs and forget to show kindness. I neglect my relationship with God.

These sins can weigh down our hearts. Even the psalmist David experienced this. He wrote, “When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.” (Psalm 32:3-4 NLT)

David felt the weight of his sin when he neglected to confess them. The heaviness of unconfessed sin filled up the closet of his heart and crowded out the light of God’s grace.

But David knew the answer—clean out the closet! He goes on:

“Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, ‘I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.’ And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.” (Psalm 32:5 NLT)

Because Jesus took the punishment for all our sins, big and small, we can receive forgiveness. When we confess our wrongdoings, God completely cleans out the closet of our hearts and makes room for His grace.

Soul Decluttering Step: Read Psalm 32. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal sinful actions you’ve done and harmful attitudes residing in your heart. Ask God to completely clean them out of your soul. Rejoice in His forgiveness and grace.

2. Shame

Keep reading…

Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash

Filed Under: Spiritual Growth

Sharla January 5, 2022

11 Ways to Flourish in the New Year

What does it mean to flourish? How can we flourish in our daily lives? in our spiritual lives? in our messy lives?

These are the questions that I endeavored to answer during 2021. I chose the word flourish to guide my time with God and give focus to my writing and everyday decisions.

For several years I’ve adopted the practice of choosing one word to provide a focus for the next 365 days. Sometimes my intended focus has fallen flat like so many New Year’s resolutions. I knew I needed to do more than simply choose a word to make it a guiding force for my life, so I became more proactive in studying and implementing my own word. I did things like studying the meaning of the word, reading books on the topic, and finding Scriptures using the chosen word. If you would like to learn more about this process and get a free guide titled, “7 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Word of the Year” read this articl e.

What Does It Mean To Flourish?

I chose the word flourish because I was in the process of writing a book about how God defines success (a book scheduled to hit the shelves in July 2022!). I thought about choosing the word success but decided on one of its synonyms because I loved the sound of flourish.

Looking up the word in the dictionary, I discovered that flourish means:

As a verb:

to grow luxuriantly
to achieve success, to reach a height of development or influence

As a noun:

a florid bit of speech or writing, an ornamental stroke in writing or printing
a period of thriving, a luxuriant growth or profusion

In Hebrew, one of the words sometimes translated as flourish is raʿănān meaning “to be or grow luxuriant or fresh or green.” Flourishing implies lush, abundant growth.

Putting it all together, to flourish is to experience abundant growth and improvement, to thrive and succeed.

What Does Flourishing Look Like In My Everyday Life?

This is one of the questions I pondered while writing my book about success in God’s eyes. After studying eight people in the Bible who experienced worldly failure but heavenly success, I would boil down all the lessons I learned into one principle:

Flourishing means living in my sacred worth as God’s beloved child. This frees me from a constant search for validation through achievement and making a name for myself. I can flourish when I remember to whom I belong!

When I remember this truth, disappointments still hurt, but don’t hit me as hard if I remember my position as someone God loves dearly. I can work from a position of already being loved and cherished instead of striving to prove myself. For me, this changes everything!

11 More Ways to Flourish

Another way I studied the concept of “flourish” was to memorize Bible verses that either contained the word “flourish” or “success.” Here are some of the lessons I learned from God’s Word.

I flourish when I trust in God’s unfailing love:

But I am like an olive tree
flourishing in the house of God;
I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever. (Psalm 52:8 NIV)

2. Flourishing isn’t arriving, but growing. It happens when I trust in God’s righteousness instead of my own resources:

Whoever trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf. (Proverbs 11:28 ESV)

3. I flourish when I spend time with God:

They are planted in the house of the Lord;
they flourish in the courts of our God. (Psalm 92:13 ESV)

4. Returning to God, repenting of my sins, and dwelling in God’s mercy will make me flourish like the grass–which grows abundantly. These actions will also help me blossom–display God’s beauty–and bring fame–help others notice God, not me:

They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow;
they shall flourish like the grain;
they shall blossom like the vine;
their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon. (Hosea 14:7 ESV)

5. God enables me to flourish. He makes it happen:

You heavens above, rain down my righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness flourish with it; I, the Lord, have created it. (Isaiah 45:8 NIV)

6. I flourish because of God’s righteousness:

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
¹³planted in the house of the Lord,
they will flourish in the courts of our God. (Psalm 92:12-13 NIV)

7. Flourishing is not chasing success in an attempt to surpass others:

Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind. (Ecclesiastes 4:4 NLT)

8. I flourish when I focus on steadfast love and faithfulness–both God’s love and faithfulness toward me and when I act loving and faithful:

Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
    bind them around your neck;
    write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will find favor and good success
    in the sight of God and man. (Proverbs 3:3-4 ESV)

9. I flourish when I meditate on God’s Word and obey it:

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. (Joshua 1:8 NIV)

10. I flourish when I receive godly counsel.

Plans go wrong for lack of advice;
many advisers bring success. (Proverbs 15:22 NLT)

11. I flourish when I sharpen my skills.

If the ax is dull
and its edge unsharpened,
more strength is needed,
but skill will bring success. (Ecclesiastes 10:10)

I pray that you will flourish in the year ahead!

Next step: If you want to flourish through choosing one word to guide your year, consider using my free resource, “7 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Word of the Year.” Get it here.

Filed Under: Spiritual Growth Tagged With: success

Sharla December 21, 2021

When You’re Floored By Bad News

Christmas is a joyous season, but for some it doesn’t feel that way.

I understand. Some of the most painful events in my life happened in the month of December. The two miscarriages I experienced both happened in that month. My father died on December 7 in 2001. It was Christmas Day when we found out that my husband’s father had passed away.

Sometimes the happiness of the season only amplifies your pain.

Maybe this year you didn’t have a lot of good news. In fact, you had more than your fair share of bad news. Perhaps your job disappeared in the sinking economy. Or your doctor gave a diagnosis without much hope. Or you lost a loved one. You are waiting and hoping for some good news.

I bet the shepherds near Bethlehem on that Christmas night felt much the same way. The whole nation of Israel had been groaning under Roman rule. They were tired of seeing foreign soldiers in the streets. They were tired of obeying a ruler who lived far away. Life seemed like a long string of bad news.

So when the angel announced that he had good news for them, he immediately had the shepherds’ attention:

Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10-11)

The shepherds didn’t waste any time in going to see what all the good news was about. They raced to Bethlehem to see the baby and immediately told others the good news (Luke 2:17). They praised God for all they had seen and heard (Luke 2:20).

As I think about the shepherd’s response I am humbled.

You see, the good news they received did not immediately change their financial situation. Sharing the good news probably gave them their 15 minutes of fame, but it didn’t get them wealth or power.

Still, they realized that this was the best good news and so they told others and praised God.

I, on the other hand, may not always be exuberant about the good news of the Savior. I’m tempted to continue to focus on the bad news: the doctor’s diagnosis or the generally lousy state of the economy. I forget that the good news of Jesus overcomes any of the rotten news of this world. Yes, things might not improve right away, but God promises a happy ending in heaven for those who trust in the Babe of Bethlehem.

So this Christmas I’m praying that I will be more like the shepherds–rejoicing in the best news ever!

The good news of Jesus overcomes any of the lousy news of this world. Share on X

Jesus Christ is born! We are rescued from sin and death! In Christ we have life and peace! We are welcomed into God’s family.

Next step: Write a prayer thanking God for the best news ever. And if this year is one of those years with more bad news than good, I would be honored to pray for you. Send me an email or share your prayer requests in the comments below.

Filed Under: Spiritual Growth Tagged With: Christmas, good news, shepherds

Sharla December 14, 2021

When You Feel Ordinary

This holy season we are examining the characters of Christmas. Last week we looked at Elizabeth. (Click here to read her story.) This week we will look at Mary.

Mary’s story is so familiar to us. Every Advent season we hear the story of the angel visiting the young girl. We see the picture of Gabriel giving the news to Mary on dozens of Christmas cards every year. The artist usually pictures Mary sitting very serene, looking at the angel. And so it’s easy to assume that it was easy for Mary to accept this special role. That it was effortless for her to say yes to God’s plan for her. After all, she was given the most important task any woman would ever have. She would be honored for all time. Who wouldn’t want that?

But we know the whole story. We have the advantage of looking back at history and seeing how God worked everything out. We know the story has a happy ending. Mary didn’t have that perspective.

Young Mary was betrothed to Joseph–which is a little like our engagement process. But in the eyes of the law, a betrothed woman was legally bound to the man–even if the marriage ceremony hadn’t taken place. And so, if a betrothed woman was found pregnant by another man, she was accused of adultery. And the punishment for adultery was stoning by death.

And even if she was not put to death physically, Mary realized that life as she knew it was going to die. Friends would probably not believe her story of an angelic visit. Not to mention her fiance!

So if I had been in Mary’s shoes I probably would have reacted to the Gabriel’s message with something like, “Sure, I’ll go along with God’s plan if you will just go out into the streets and tell everyone that I, Mary of Nazareth, have been chosen to be the mother of the Savior.”

But what did Mary say?

“Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)

Mary was selected for the most special role any woman could have. But think about it—very few people during her lifetime would truly understood her unique calling. Most people would have seen her either as a tramp, someone who violated God’s laws, or as a crazy person, someone claiming to have a virgin birth.

And that’s why it’s so amazing that she responded to Gabriel with the words, “Let it be to me according to your word.” Mary’s humility enabled her to say yes to God.

Unlike Mary, I struggle with acceptance. I struggle with acceptance because I subconsciously put myself on a level with God. I don’t see how my life fits into God’s big plan and, truth be told, my mighty self sits on the throne of my heart more often than Christ does.

Maybe you struggle with acceptance too. Perhaps life is not going as you had planned. And there is no relief in sight.

That’s why we need to remember Mary. She accepted her God-given role. And even though we now see her as special, to most people in her day she probably appeared very ordinary. Mary was able to say yes to God because she understood her small life was a piece of God’s big plan.

You may feel like you are nothing special. But the Bible tells us that each of us has been selected for a unique calling (Ephesians 4:10). Only one woman is mother to your children. Only one woman is the wife of your husband. Only one woman can minister to the needs of your church with your specific God-given gifts. Only one woman can reach into your world with your particular skill set.

When you feel ordinary remember that is not how God sees you. God sees you as special. God sees you as unique. God sees you as a one-of-a-kind person with a one-of-a-kind life. All those tears you wipe away, all those dishes you wash, all those memos you type–all add up to one incredible life when you see them through God’s eyes.

God sees you as unique. God sees you as a one-of-a-kind person with a one-of-a-kind life. Share on X

Sometimes it’s hard to accept the life you have right now.

But maybe it’s a little easier when you remember that all the little things you do matter in God’s big plan.

God’s plan is more immense than we can imagine, but every little piece of the intricate design matters. You matter.

Next step: Read Mary’s story in Luke 1 (click here to read it online). Imagine yourself as Mary receiving the news from Gabriel. How would you have wanted to respond? Then write out Mary’s response, ““Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” and post it where you can see it often. Repeat this words back to the loving Savior.

Filed Under: God's Relentless Love, Spiritual Growth Tagged With: humility, ordinary

Sharla November 23, 2021

One More Reason to Be Thankful

Thanksgiving is upon us. Maybe you can hardly wait for the roasted turkey and cranberry stuffing. Or perhaps you dread the holidays. Or maybe you’re struggling to find a reason to be thankful.

Perhaps you even feel thanksgiving is a bit passe. I mean all year long we hear about keeping gratitude journals. Experts continually tout the benefits of feeling thankful. And you feel like–enough is enough. What is so great about thanksgiving anyway?

One More Reason

Perhaps Psalm 95:2 tells us the biggest perk of thanksgiving:

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! Psalm 95:2

The experts tell us that gratitude improves our physical and psychological health. Psychologists claim it will enhance your sleep and self-esteem. But if you need one more reason to be thankful, God says thanksgiving will usher us into His presence. What could be better than that?

All year long, I’ve been trying to notice God more in my everyday life. I want to see Him not only in the sacred hour of Sunday worship or the momentous events of life. I want to see Him on an ordinary Tuesday morning, a gloomy Thursday afternoon. I want to see Him while I’m typing at my computer or playing my piano. And sometimes I struggle with this.

However, I’ve found one sure way of discovering God in my everyday world:

Discover at least one thing to be grateful for.

Thanksgiving = Awareness

Somehow the simple act of thanking God makes me aware of His nearness. When I say “Thank you” for the Honeycrisp apple I ate for lunch, I remember His creativity. When I express gratitude for the encouraging words a friend texted me yesterday, I recall His care. When I thank Him for women who regularly join me for Bible study, I rejoice in His gift of sisters in Christ.

And all of it brings me into His company.

Of course, we know we should be thankful for the gifts God has given us. He grants us food and drink, home and family. He graciously gives us forgiveness and salvation through His Son, Jesus. So yes, we want to express our gratitude to the great Provider.

But if you need one more reason to practice thanksgiving, remember Psalm 95:2: Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving.

Filed Under: Spiritual Growth Tagged With: gratitude, thanksgiving

Sharla November 9, 2021

How Gratitude Changes Us

John Milton said,

Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to experience everyday epiphanies.

Gratitude changes me. Thankfulness helps me remember that everything I have is from God. He gives the gifts of faith, love, and even a sunny day in November. Gratitude definitely inspires reverence.

Milton also said gratitude allows us to experience epiphanies. My dictionary gives two definitions for epiphany:

a moment when you suddenly see or understand something in a new way
an appearance or manifestation, especially of a divine being

Thankfulness enables us to see our everyday lives in a new way. We can complain about snow on the ground or we thank God for its beauty. We can gripe about the toys all over the family room or be grateful the children in our lives that put them there.

Thankfulness helps us to “see” God. Of course, God is always with us. But our busy, messy lives often crowd out our awareness of Him. A small prayer of gratitude even in the midst of a chaotic morning is enough to “manifest” His presence to our spirits.

The apostle Paul wrote:

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

Colossians 3:15

Could it be that one way to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts is to be grateful? That as we stop to say thanks we push out a bit of discontent from our hearts and make room for peace?

This week is a national celebration of Thanksgiving. At overcrowded tables all over the country, people will stop to give thanks.

Let’s carry that attitude of thanksgiving throughout the year. As we do, we will see our lives in a new way. We will discover God in the mundane corners of our days.

Next step: This week, remember to thank God for the mundane and ordinary. Say a small prayer of gratitude and experience God’s transforming power.

Filed Under: Spiritual Growth Tagged With: gratitude

Sharla October 5, 2021

Living Connected: An Introvert’s Guide to Friendship

What serendipity! One of my best friends has written a lovely book on friendship.

Afton and I met about ten years ago in a writers group where we all read each others’ work and offered praise and suggestions. As a newbie working on my very first book, I greatly benefitted from Afton’s advice since she was an experienced editor. That first book would have been far less polished without her input.

Fast forward a few years. Afton and I both joined the Redbud Writers Guild and took part in a new writers group. I had the privilege of seeing several new books birthed from that small group of writers–one of them Afton’s. As our group read each chapter of her fledgling book, we appreciated her honest stories about friendship and her helpful suggestions about improving our connections with others.

One day after the group meeting, Afton and I were talking in the parking lot of Panera and Afton got a call from her agent. A publisher said yes to her book! We did a little happy dance right there in the parking lot!

I have no doubt that you will also love her book! Living Connected: An Introvert’s Guide to Friendship includes real-life friendship stories, Bible stories, and hints on how you can reach out to others while remaining true to yourself. Each chapter focuses on one aspect of friendship. You’ll learn how empathy and loyalty contribute to deep friendships. You’ll see how approachability and creativity can help you make new friends. Flexibility and consistency balance our relationships. And humility and confidentiality hold them together.

So you can find out more about Afton’s inspiring book, I asked her to share more about why she wrote it and how it will enrich your life.

The book focuses on friendship for introverts. Isn’t that ironic? Don’t introverts just want to be alone?

Introverts do happily spend time alone. And they like quiet. But they do also like people. In fact, introverts really enjoy one-on-one conversations. But being with people takes more effort for introverts than it does for extroverts.

How exactly would you define the words introvert and extrovert?

One of the definitions that helps me most includes the answer to this question: What energizes you? Introverts find energy from quiet; extroverts find energy from activity, especially people activity.

For example, my husband, an extrovert comes alive in a room full of people. And on a Saturday morning after a draining week, he picks up the phone to call a friend—or two or three.

As an introvert, I feel overwhelmed in a room full of people. And on a Saturday morning after a draining week, I want a few hours alone in the basement.

Obviously, no person fits completely into a box. People have tremendous nuance. And the terms introvert and extrovert include so much more than just what energizes a person. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Assessment has helped lots of people learn more about introversion and extroversion for over 75 years. The assessment talks about ways people gain energy, but it also covers how they take in information, make decisions, and organize their worlds. So helpful!

I also highly recommend the books Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain and Introverts in the Church: Finding Our Place in an Extroverted Culture by Adam McHugh.

And you are an introvert? How did you come to own your own introversion?

Way back in college, I took the Meyers Briggs test and discovered that I am an introvert. I did not pay much attention back then. I wish I had. Instead, for decades I pushed myself to act like an extrovert and even shamed myself for my quiet voice. But over the past decade, I discovered some book friends that really helped me understand and own my introverted voice. Adam McHugh’s book Introvert’s in the Church particularly spoke to me. I have a quotation from his book on my dresser where it reminds me every day that my introversion is a gift: “I’d like to think that the work of God might be displayed through by introversion, and not in spite of it.

How does understanding this about yourself give you direction and purpose in terms of connecting to others?

The more I read and thought and prayed about introversion and friendship, the more I realized that God didn’t make a mistake when He wired me as an introvert. He gave me a gift! A gift that actually helps me connect well with people.

Introverts tend to have unique gifts that actually make them good at connecting. We don’t have to become “fake extroverts.” We can instead embrace our natural tendencies to listen, ask questions, think outside the box, process through writing, and empathetically feel others’ pain. All of those abilities help introverts connect with others.

How does faith factor into living connected as an introvert?

As an introvert, I love quiet. I happily spend time alone, particularly in my large, over-stuffed, living room chair

But then I read John 15:12 (NLT) and discover a get-out-of-your-chair-and-reach-for-people challenge, straight from the mouth of Jesus:

This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.

These words remind me that because God has deeply and sacrificially loved me, I must head into a world that God has called me to live in—a world full of people who don’t know Him. And a world full of people who have lately heard and seen so much aggressive, divisive language and behavior done in God’s name.

BUT I don’t have to pretend to be an extrovert to do it. I can connect in a quiet, thoughtful sort of way, introvert-style.

Could an extrovert pick up this book and learn something? Do you recommend that extroverts read it?

Several extroverts read the book and even endorsed it. One of my endorsers, Mary Whelchel Lowman, wrote this: “I have lived many of my eighty years without ever thinking about the challenge introverts face. In fact, when I did think or talk about introversion, it was usually with a negative slant—like this was a problem those introverts needed to solve! My good friend Afton Rorvik began to change that for me a few years ago, as she shared her life and writings with me . . . Introvert or not—this is a book you need to read!”

My hope is that extroverts and introverts will read the book and then use it as a launching pad for conversation.

Where can we get the book?

Get it on Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

Connect with Afton! She is available to speak at your church or group. Contact her through her website: https://aftonrorvik.com/

Plus, follow her on social media.

Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LearningtoLiveConnected/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AftonRorvik

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aftonrorvik/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aftonrorvik?lang=en

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWsesaQt8aFKy6cwx1nUqPg

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2845576.Afton_Rorvik

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afton-rorvik-a55b6080/

Website: https://aftonrorvik.com/

Filed Under: Spiritual Growth Tagged With: friendship

Sharla July 1, 2021

What Encouragement Looks Like

This week I’m over at PerennialGen with an article about encouragement. Start reading here and click the link to finish!

What does encouragement look like? How can we develop this gift?

My third-grade year started out rather ominously. One day our teacher wasn’t at the front of the classroom. Our eight-year-old brains didn’t grasp exactly what a cancer diagnosis meant, but we did understand that Mrs. Harris wasn’t coming back.

We continued learning cursive writing and multiplication tables from a string of substitutes who flowed through the classroom. But everything changed when Miss Marquardt stepped through the door. Miss Marquardt had a different style of teaching. We still learned three times three equaled nine and how to loop a perfect S. But this teacher also encouraged our creativity. We made dioramas and performed silly skits. We wrote stories and created our own picture books.

When third grade ended, I regretted having to leave Miss Marquardt’s classroom. Thankfully, by the end of the school year, my mother and Miss Marquardt had become acquainted through our church. My favorite teacher began showing up at our dinner table and at family events.

Somehow, this teacher/family friend took an interest in ordinary me. Her simple act of noticing me made me feel special. And a shy, quiet girl began to bloom under her attention.

Continue reading at PerennialGen to learn 3 ways to become a true encourager!

And if you want even more information about encouragement, check out my post, “My Top Five Encouragement Phrases.”

Filed Under: Spiritual Growth, Taming Your Tongue Tagged With: encouragement

Sharla April 27, 2021

The Father’s Renovation Program

I’m honored to have a post on The Perennial Gen this week. Read about God’s renovation program for our souls.

“Should we watch another?’ my sister asked. When I spent a weekend with my sister in her Tucson home, we passed some time on her new reclining sofa in front of the TV. Although we walked at a botanical garden and hiked in a national park, we also relaxed by watching a marathon of HGTV home makeover shows. Whenever I witness the process of taking something old and worn and making it beautiful again, something in my spirit also experiences a transformation.

As we watched, I noticed that some of the renovators stripped the aging homes of everything old and installed brand-new flooring, walls, appliances, and furniture. These houses now looked completely different. Although I had to agree that the home looked better, the drastic change made me wonder if the old building wondered, “Was I really that bad?”

My favorite shows featured ancient buildings that needed a tremendous amount of work just to make them functional again. But while the renovators repaired the leaky plumbing, updated the electrical service, and refinished the worn wooden floors, they kept the character of the home. Not everything old was discarded. (Something I appreciate the greater my age!)

When I returned to my home in suburban Chicago, I thought of how the process of renovating a home sometimes resembles the process God uses to refurbish our souls. Sometimes I have felt that I needed to look like one of those perfectly renovated homes before God would slow down, pull over to the curb, and notice me. So I’ve embarked on my own remodeling projects—reading self-improvement books, taking classes, setting goals—so I could look flawless.