Are You Being Renewed Day by Day? Updated 7/23/13

Originally written 7/25/11, just about two years ago exactly...Not much has changed since then...I'm still on the "downward slope" physically, but I'm working on the renewal part inwardly day by day...how about you? Some good things to think about here...

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day."  2 Corinthians 4:16

I had to ask myself the question that I wrote as the title of this particular blog: "Am I being renewed day by day?  What exactly does this mean?  The verse quoted above states that "Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day..."  

Can this really be me?????

It is pretty obvious to me that my "outward man (woman) is perishing"... The signs are all there...a wrinkle or two (or three or four) here and there, a stray gray hair (again, more than just a few) sticking right straight out, much more visible because of its tenacious curl (friz) and coarse texture refusing to obey the smooth curves of the rest of the style I'd worked to hard to achieve.  A few extra inches to pinch in places I'd prefer not to have noticed by anyone..numerous creaky joints that crack and pop and slow me down when I'd prefer to run a little faster...yeah...my outward woman is definitely on the "downward" slope.  Even with all the tender loving care I've tried to lavish upon myself over the years...age has a way of catching up with us sooner or later, whether we like it or not.

So what about the "inward man"...is there something I can do about that to keep it from going downhill as rapidly as my "outward man"?

If we go back to verses 8-9 of this same chapter, we can read about the trials and tribulations of the Apostle Paul  and the other early church leaders:

"We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed..."

And yet, even though these early missionaries for Christ suffered many things at the hands of those who wanted to see the cause of Christ stamped out before it could firmly take root...these saints of God persevered...held fast...moved forward...yes, even though their outward man was perishing...their inward man was being renewed day by day...

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."  2 Corinthians 4: 17-18

Have you ever experienced these kinds of trials in your life: hard pressed on every side, perplexed, persecuted, struck down?  I think we all have had our share of heartaches, disappointments, anxieties and sorrow.  Most likely we didn't feel like it was a "light affliction" at the time...and we probably also didn't feel like it was working a "far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" while in the midst of the struggle. 
But one thing I have learned in the midst of such difficulties is that when I allow myself to let God take control of the situation...I begin to understand that the work that is taking place inside of me is actually the renewing process that God wants to accomplish in me...it's not something that can be seen outwardly...at least not at that particular moment in time, but it is working that metamorphosis within that is eternal and complete.  My insides are being restored, renewed, revived and preserve for eternity. 

Now that's change we can live with!!!  Amen?  Amen!

Father God, Help me to let you finish the work that You have begun inside of me.  Help me to not just grab for the immediate temporary repair jobs...but to seek and desire that eternal restoration that will give the most rewarding and lasting results!  I pray this in Jesus' Name...Amen.