Renewal
Wednesday evenings, UBC hosts Renewal – a space for discipleship, healing, and recovery. Two years ago, this program helped me deal with the grief and depression that I had been living with for a very long time. Now I am walking through it again to deepen my walk with Christ and refine some areas that separate me from the hope and joy that Christ gives.
Our current focus is centered on belief in God with the premise that our beliefs influence our actions. One of the questions that challenged me is this one:
If only your actions could speak, what would they say about whom or what you trust?
- For comfort?
- For your own value, purpose or meaning?
- For relief from stress, worry or fear?
- For pleasure?
- For happiness or joy?
I know the church answer: “Jesus”. Unfortunately, my answers didn’t align with that.
My answers tended to be based on circumstances, individuals, and often my own comfort. Ouch!
Even more, God reminded me of the truth in Hebrews 12 which points us to the call to persevere in our focus on and obedience to Christ, reminding us as a body of Christ together to “fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb 12:2)
As I accept the challenge to look to Christ alone for my purpose, I can endure the difficulties. I can find true joy that endures. Stress, worry and fear no longer have a hold on my heart. The alignment between the teaching in Sunday morning worship and Wednesday evening Renewal is no coincidence. God is calling us as a body to be united in our focus on Christ, united in finding our purpose in Him. When we do, then our actions truly bely that our trust is in Christ alone.
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.” Psalm 103:2-5