Ready for a Restart?
June 25, 2024 | Faith
Imagine a friend is staying at your home for the weekend. What do you do to prepare?
It will look a little different for each of us, but I’m willing to bet that you tidy up a bit more than usual. You probably vacuum, take out the garbage, and change the sheets. For Type A personalities like myself it might involve some more intense cleaning. Regardless, we normally put in some work when we know visitors are coming.
Let me make a slight adjustment to the question.
What if God were staying at your home for the weekend?
While the question is hypothetical, it serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of preparing our hearts for Him.
No, God will not be moseying on over to your house and claiming your guest bedroom this weekend. But here’s the thing: as a child of God, YOU are His home.
"Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, 'Abba, Father.' So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir."
Galatians 4:6-7
Followers of Jesus have been given the Holy Spirit to dwell within them (Best gift EVER!) He transforms our lives and empowers us to live according to God’s will. Sometimes, though, our busy lives and desire for control can cause us to ignore His presence within us. Sometimes we need a restart - a time when we intentionally center our minds and hearts on God. I want to invite you to complete this free, 7-day plan, focused on allowing God to do His transformative work within you. Each day will include various quotes, verses, questions, videos, calls to action, and free resources to help you along your faith journey. Since God is the foundation of our lives, the first day will kick off by focusing on who He is. God is indescribable and incomprehensible, but His Word reveals various aspects of his character. There are countless names for God used throughout the Bible, and each one enriches our understanding of who He is and how He relates to His creation. For example, God’s title of shield and stronghold speaks to His protective nature, while Alpha and Omega display His presence throughout all of existence. We will also spend intentional time reflecting on what it means to be a child of God, replacing lies with truth, setting action goals for our lives, and resting in God’s presence. Each day we have an opportunity to begin anew with God. I truly believe that carving out time over the next week will lead you to a deeper connection with Him. I pray that you will discover new understandings of His goodness and have a transformation of heart and mind. Remember, preparing our hearts for God is a lifelong process. We don’t have to be perfect to invite God in. Trust me, He doesn’t mind the mess. In fact, He grabs a broom and helps us clean!
