Day 30 - Lent 2026

EMBRACING RENEWAL AND GROWTH

I used to wander off until you disciplined me; but now I closely follow your word. You are good and do only good; teach me your decrees. Arrogant people smear me with lies, but in truth I obey your commandments with all my heart. Their hearts are dull and stupid, but I delight in your instructions. My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees. Your instructions are more valuable to me than millions in gold and silver.

       Psalms 119:67-72  NLT

This passage reminds me of my path of renewal and growth that God has led me on.  Here’s just a snapshot of my journey. Maybe your journey was or  was not similar, but in any case, I believe we can glean some godly insights from it.

I was a “goody two shoes” until my teenage years.  Then I wandered off and got with bad company and did what my self-indulgent heart desired.  I went to church, got baptized, but still the streets were calling and I answered.  

I lost myself in a world of so-called friends until one day the Lord knocked me down and got my attention.  Let’s say it was a close call to ending up in a detention center.  I prayed and the Lord heard my cry.

The Lord told me that in order to grow, I had to let go.  Let go of people, places and things.  The so-called friends didn’t it like it when I wouldn’t indulge in their schemes anymore.  They now were spreading lies about me. They called my good evil.  The places I used to go to I didn’t go any more.  The things I used to do I didn’t do anymore.  This was and is my process of renewal and growth.  I am not where I am going to be, but, thanks be to God, I am not where I used to be.  I remain on the Potter’s wheel being constantly reshaped. Philippians 1:6 states: "Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."   During this Lenten season and beyond, be assured that God initiates and completes a transformative, spiritual work within us, believers,  until Christ’s return.

Let us pray:

Dear Heavenly Father, order our steps in your world.  Let your word so shine in us so that it will transform us and those that we encounter.  Let us decrease as You increase in our lives, speech, walk and talk.  As Your new creation, help us to embrace Your direction of love through discipline which leads to growth.  Your word says that You discipline those You love.  Thank You, Lord, for making us Your children and heirs to Your promise of being with You for eternity.

It is in the mighty name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

SUBMITTED BY ELDER IVAN O’CONNOR