Renovations on My Heart

Dust, destruction, noise, debris all describe the environment that surrounds renovation. Our family should know. My husband is busily renovating a large portion of our daughter’s home. What a mess. But it is a mess working toward something beautiful, something better than before.

So, she is willing to wade through the rubble, deal with the dust and the inconvenience, wear ear plugs when the noise is too much, keep the children busy, and generally stay the course while she and her dad work to update her home. The result will be worth the mess.

I thought about that today as I thought about my life.

I’m in a constant state of renovation as God is molding me into the image of His Son Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29). Some days are days of destruction as He tears aways cherished sins and habits that are taking up space in my heart. He may pull me away from activities that I have put in His place, or He may call me to replace old attitudes with ones that honor Him. Other days, the dust flies as He chisels and polishes to hone and shine the gifts He has given me, so that He can be glorified in them. The work is hard, and my flesh groans. Still other times, have Him cleaning out the debris left over from my life before Him – scars and memories that must be healed, hurts that must be forgiven. A lot of work goes into the renovation of a new creature to conform her to the image of God’s own Son.

I tend to forget about this transformation process when I am struggling through trials or waiting through illness. I don’t like it when my plans fall through, I want God to make everything go away. I don’t want to suffer. I forget that He is renovating me. He is molding me, and the tools that are required to do that can be uncomfortable.

We see little bits of how the house will look when it is finished as each phase of the renovation is finished, and that keeps everyone going strong. The excitement will come, though, when we see the brand-new kitchen sparkling in the house. We can forget the hardships of the overhaul then.

Day by day, I know that I am growing in my Lord. I am stronger in Him now than I was when I first came to know Him many years ago. My real delight, though, will be when I step into His presence and know that the work He has been doing in my life is complete. The hardships of the renovations will be worth it all.

Father, thank You for Your patience as You work daily in my life to mold me and make me to be more like Jesus. Keep me growing each day. Keep me longing for You, always following Your way. In Jesus’ precious name I pray.

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“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29, KJV).

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Think About It:

How is God working in your life today?

Are some uncomfortable renovations taking place?