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Remodel

Most of us have seen some of those TV shows that follow house flippers. The camera closely follows the professionals as they walk through a dilapidated house. They mutter words like “load-bearing wall” and “great bones” as they envision what the house can become. We watch the process, which almost always has a big surprise, whether it’s a great surprise like hardwood floors under the shag carpet or a not-so-great surprise like moldy drywall. We watch expectantly, impatient for the big reveal when we get to see the finished remodel.

Second Corinthians 4:16 says, “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day” (ESV). The Greek word for “renew” in this verse is anakainoo, and it means, “to be changed into a new kind of life as opposed to the former corrupt state.” In short, we are sort of like one of those dilapidated houses, and the Bible instructs us to let the Great Contractor in to do a remodel daily. He can get rid of all the mold and asbestos deep down inside and renew our spirits.

It’s quite a process; it isn’t an immediate change, and there can be setbacks. But the beauty of the inner remodel is that even when we make mistakes, God's Grace is new every morning. He is so patient and kind as He scrapes away what needs to be scraped away and replaces our hardened hearts with tender ones. Ezekiel 11:19-20 says, “And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart, so they will obey my decrees and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God” (NLT). In other words, He welcomes us as-is, remodels us to be more like Him, and with His Blood, He pays the mortgage. Best. Remodel. Ever.

Reflect: Are there areas in your life where you have not allowed the Lord to remodel? Is there some sin or addiction that you are hanging on to? When the contractors on TV only renovate one or two rooms, it looks a bit awkward, because, although the remodel looks amazing, the rest of the house is still old and dilapidated. Wouldn’t it be better if you allowed Him to renew you completely, and not just in part?

Respond: How can you lay your entire self down for a renovation? What areas in your life have you been hanging on to that you need to release to God?

Repent: Ask the Lord to forgive you for withholding certain aspects of your life, and invite Him in completely.

Resolve: Be accountable to someone so that you don’t take one single room back. Allow Him to renovate your entire self so that day by day you are more like Him.