“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16)

Bill Johnson wrote a book called “When Heaven Invades Earth.”  I just love that title.  To me it speaks about the essence of what is good and holy beginning to embody all that is human.  Each day that we are alive is a day that we can live in the hope of this coming to pass – our persons being filled with the Holy Spirit of God.

Not that any of us has obtained the full measure of the goodness of God.  I am always amazed at my own lack of faithfulness and goodness.  There are times when I am worn and tired that I become somebody whom I don’t really like.

Recently I drove 16 hours from Nova Scotia to Ontario.  Toward the end of that long trip, my wife and I stopped for dinner at a fast food restaurant somewhere in the heart of Quebec.  We were about 3 or 4 hours from home.

My four sons, my wife and I were very tired after so many hours on the road.  The boys were especially tired of sitting in car seats the entire day.  I just wanted to continue driving and not stop so that we could get home and sleep the night in our own beds.  After 3.5 weeks on the road the thought of this was a luxury, but my wife wanted us to eat.

While sitting at that picnic table eating one of my sons had a very public bathroom accident.  Instead of using the potty he used the picnic table that we were sitting at eating our dinner where literally dozens and dozens of people were watching.  My wife and I were shocked.   What was worse one of our younger sons started to play with it.

We were both very tired and I was particularly somewhat irritable.  This was not what I wanted to be facing in this moment at all.

It took us ten minutes to get everyone cleaned up and back into the van.  That is when I decided I really needed a coffee, so I went back into the busy restaurant to line up for one.

Two people came into the line after me and butted their way in front of me.  At this point I got upset.  I jumped back in front of them and told the shocked lady at the cash that it was their fault and that they should not have butted in front of me.

I got my coffee, but certainly didn’t feel very good about myself.  I wasn’t kind.  In this raw state of living I had become someone I didn’t like.  I ended up laughing with my wife about the ordeal as we drove on, but the moment struck me as one to remember.

We all have areas in our life that are not renewed and each day as we pray, we need to be seeking God in those areas of our life.  There are dry areas, bitter areas and even downright mean areas that we need to give to God.  Through repentance we become more like Christ.

In that moment I wasn’t happy with whom I was, but I was thankful because I had an area I could give to God and ask him to water with His Spirit.

I pray for you today.  I ask the Lord to touch you and to bring healing to your broken areas.  I ask Him to open your heart in such a way that peace and joy begin to bloom in your life in a new way.  May the refreshing of the Lord overtake you like rain on a warm summer day.