“He saves us – not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to His mercy – through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out His Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour” (Titus 3.5-6)
Book shops are filled with books that gives advises to the reader. Couching has become the new fashionable word. TEDx talks have hundreds of thousands of views, even millions. There is a pursuit in our soul to search for something else. It has to be something better out there. Life cannot be just what it is. The thirst and hunger for more is exploited by others for their own gain.
The puzzle is easier to be resolved than most people think about it. If you desire to live a renew life, it requires to turn to the ultimate source, the One that gave us life. Only the Almighty God, the Creator, is able to give life worth living and renew your being.
The narrative of Genesis is water clear. It goes this way, “then the Lord God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7). The “breath of life” is the infusion of the Spirit of Life, which makes us to be to the likeness of Christ. The Holy Spirit is presented in the whole Bible as being the “wind of God.”
The Holy Spirit is the source of all renewal; in fact, there is not renewal in your life without His life in us. If we want to discover a new meaning for life, if we desire to be restored into newness, find again the joy lost, or the purpose unfound, the unfulfilled dreams; the expected step is to search in the spiritual realm to discover the real you. You would not find real change without the Holy Spirit working through you, because He is the one that breath genuine resurgence, even when all things seem to be lost.
In God, it is not over, until He says it is done. Let me illustrate what I am saying using two prophecies that we found in Isaiah. This points to God’s action among His people in time of need of renewal.
“The poor and the needy seek water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. I will answer them. I am the Lord, the God of Israel. I will not abandon them. I will open rivers on the barren heights, and springs in the middle of the plains. I will turn the desert into a pool and dry land into springs. I will plant cedar, acacia, myrtle, and olive trees in the wilderness. I will put juniper, elm, and cypress trees together in the desert, so that all may see and know, consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it” (Isaiah 41:17-20).
The desert could be said to be a situation that we face, the wilderness are conditions that we struggle to overcome; however, even in the driest land, we have not been left hopeless. God sees us. Isaiah’s words are clear, He still listen our prayers. There will be a time when the Lord will command and springs of living waters will stream into rivers (John 4:10, see also Jeremiah 2:13; 17:13). If you only see desert around you, don’t lose heart, soon the Oasis will be in front of you.
Let us know look another prophecy that it was also written by Isaiah. “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth. He never becomes faint or weary; there is no limit to his understanding. He gives strength to the faint and strengthens the powerless. Youths may become faint and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40.28-31).
People think strength is just for the youth. It is a matter of age. Tired is associated to older people, but vigour to young. However, Isaiah presents us with a different picture. Strength is found in a person being renewed by the Spirit. The young people, without God, live without living, work fruitless. Yet, the adults, with God, are powerful sources of life wherever they go.
Real renewal comes from the true source of life, the Holy Spirit. He is the constant and certain source of renewal. His presence brings hope where it was despair, joy when there was only sadness, and faith to places of fear. Our Father brings life and rekindle our light in the night. But it is much more than just that, He desires to fill your life with what there is of best in Christ.
For this reason, nothing could be better that starts this journey of renewing of our minds. Take time to spend a couple of moments each day to approach to God and share your concerns with the Lord. Open the Bible, choose one of the gospels and start reading slowly the words before you. You don’t have to read all at once. Take your time and reflect what you are reading and how this it is relevant to your life. Finally, spend time with others that like you, desire to grow closer to God and be renewed by the Holy Spirit.
Remember God’s words, “I will answer them. I am the Lord, the God of Israel. I will not abandon them.”
Every blessing,
Bishop Josep Rossello
