A Meditation
1.
Introduction
God
loves to make all things new.
Psalm 104: 30
Lamentations
3: 23
One
day God will renew everything
Isaiah 65: 17
Matthew 19: 28
Revelation 21: 5
Today
God is making people new. That
is why Jesus came
God
makes people new through the work of Jesus.
2 Corinthians 4:16
2
Corinthians 5:17
Galatians 2: 20
The Holy Spirit is the one who brings newness. This newness is an act of grace always an act of mercy and grace.
Titus 3:5
2.
Exercise
Think
about your recent experience of newness.
Concentrate mostly on quite ordinary things
a
new car, a new baby, a new day, new energy.
What
does newness feel like? In
what ways is the new preferable to the old?
3.
Meditation
Take
each of these six sections slowly and prayerfully.
The aim is to understand ways in which the Spirit wants to renew our
lives. Allow him to show you
steps of repentance. Allow
him to show you your need of his grace.
New
Life
I Peter 1: 3
Romans 7.6
Ezra 9.9
Jesus
said You must be born again. Have
you experienced new birth? When
did it happen? What did it
feel like? Or do you
still need the new birth?
Ezekiel
36: 26
Psalm
51: 10
David
knew that there was something wrong with his heart.
It had led him to behave in shameful ways.
David repented of this sin and asked for a new heart
a
heart that would love God and honour him.
Do you too need to ask for a new heart?
Romans 12: 2
Ephesians 4: 23 - 24
To
live transformed lives we need transformed minds
minds
which are full of truth. If people
believe things strongly and understand things well then they will live by them.
How firmly is your mind rooted in truth?
Do you, for example, firmly believe that God loves you and that God
is in control? Do you,
for example, believe the truth of 1 John 5:19?
What can you do to get a renewed mind?
Isaiah 40: 31
Matthew
II:
28
29
Philippians 4: 13
Old
things are worn out and weary. New
things are young and fresh. Be
honest with yourself
do
you resemble something old or something new?
Do you need to ask the Holy Spirit for a new strength?
John 7.38
Mark
1:
27
Acts 17:19
Isaiah 41: 15
1 Cor.12: 4-11
Both
Jesus and Paul had something new and fresh to say to people. And the message came with authority and new power.
Is what you say to people tired and familiar?
Is it powerless? Do
you need a new message on your lips?
And do you need to begin to have a ministry that really does change
things?
Colossians 3:11-16
John 13: 34 - 35
John 17:
20 -21 Acts
2:
42 - 47
Does
the Church community to which you belong feel old or new? Is it full of love?
Is it powerful? Does
it attract others? Or is it
tired? Do you need to pray for your community that it will be
made new?
4.
Ministry
Ask
the Lord if there is anything else he wishes to reveal to you.
Is there anything you would find it helpful to share or pray through with
others? Are there any
practical steps you can take to act on what he has shown you?
Reprinted
from:
ReSource RWM March 2006 (4 Old Station Yard, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 3LD -Phone 01235 553722 - Web www.resource-armnet - Email office@resource-arm.net)