We serve a God who renews all things—and all people who call upon His name.

Renewal has several definitions, and each is relevant to our walk as Christians.

According to Oxford Languages, one definition of renewal is “an instance of resuming an activity or state after an interruption.”

Certainly, we have each experienced interruptions in our lives, especially with the pandemic. Illnesses. Loss of Jobs. Loss of time with family and friends. Loss of direction. So many losses. So many interruptions Renewal promises us “resumed” lives after these interruptions.

Oxford Languages also defines “renewal” as “the replacing or repairing of something that is worn out, run-down, or broken.”

Perhaps the pandemic brings together these two definitions, giving us time and space to assess our lives and see what is “worn out, run down, or broken.” We inventory our lives and list those areas that need to be replaced or mended. We take these areas to our Savior and ask Him to repair them. We can use this time of interruption to heal and mend so that, when our lives are “resumed,” they aren’t our former lives. They are new. New in Christ. Filled with purpose. Ready for service.

This morning, I listened to a sermon by Dr. Josh Moody. He is preaching a sermon series on Nehemiah, the man called by God to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Dr. Moody noted, at the end of today’s sermon, that God sent Jesus to each of us Who, when we call upon His name, will help us rebuild the broken “walls” of our spirits and of our lives.

Today, please join me in this reflection. How are the walls of your life, your spirit, broken and in need of mending. Take this brokenness to Christ, the ultimate Restorer.

Likewise, let us pray to our Savior for the renewal and healing for our communities, our nations, and our world.

Today is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Each day, millions of Christians around the world are persecuted for their faith. From Nigeria to Pakistan, North Korea to the Central African Republic, Christians routinely face discrimination, harassment, violence, and even death.

In the United States, we are seeing a more overt hostility toward the right of Christians to verbalize their beliefs when they go against emerging social norms. While currently the “penalties” for these Christians are not as deadly, for the first time in our history, overt expressions of belief have cost Christians their jobs and have led to humiliation and bullying. So while we are not experiencing the persecution of those for whom we pray today, for the first time, many American Christians can see where this path can lead. And, perhaps this makes us more mindful of those who are currently suffering.

We, today, pray for renewal of our lives, our communities, our nations, and this world. We pray for the persecuted church. We pray for those who do not know our Savior.

Lord, renew us and our lands.