Renewal

“If someone dies, will they live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait for my renewal to come. You will call and I will answer you; you will long for the creature your hands have made.”

— Job 14:14-15

Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King,

Job asks a question that we know the answer to, “If someone dies, will they live again?” We know that in You, we will live again! Isaiah 26:19 answers Job’s question clearly, “But your dead will live, LORD; their bodies will rise—let those who dwell in the dust wake up and shout for joy—your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead.” I know that when this life is over, I will live again.

Even though my days contain hard service, I will wait expectantly for my renewal to come. I know that I will be renewed fully and completely when I come into Your Kingdom, “the renewal of all things” (Matthew 19:28). But I also wait expectantly for You to bring renewal to me and to Your Church. I believe that as society grows more despairing and more desperate, You will bring Your renewal to those who are coming to You in their desperation.

You will call those who are far off, those who are suffering (much like Job) and they will answer You. You long for those far from You, those suffering, those broken and hurting, because they are Your creation that Your hands have made.

Lord Jesus, thank You for the promise of new life to come and for renewal You will bring here on earth. In this year ahead, I pray that I may hear Your voice clearly and that I may answer quickly. Thank You for longing for me and all of Your creation that Your hands have made.

— In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen!

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