Renewed – It’s kind of an interesting word. When you add the prefix “re” to a word, it indicates that something is happening again. In this case, what was once new, is being made new again.
Sometimes our longing for renewal is actually a longing for what was. We want things to go back to the way they were before. But God has a different way. When Jesus brings renewal, He gives us something better than what we had before!
We are actually better than new. The Bible says it this way, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
The spiritual renewal we long for everyday at Wichita Falls Faith Mission is the kind that puts the past behind us and begins brand new stories, with new chapters of victory and hope.
Kevin was in and out of addiction and bounced around from job to job. One day he stole his mom’s car and that was the final straw for the family. Living on the streets and completely separated from those he loved, he hit rock bottom. He added, “I had tried to change by just being a better version of myself. It wasn’t working.”
He found his way to Faith Mission through the advice of a friend. “I couldn’t believe I was living in a homeless shelter.” He said. “This was not how my mom had raised me.”
Over time, Kevin renewed his walk with Christ and began to realize that he was led to Faith Mission by God. He said, “It was time to stop trying to change myself and let God do the changing.” Keven completed the New Beginnings recovery program and the job readiness program and moved into the transitional supportive house. He got a job and rode a bicycle to work until he could save enough money for a car. He said, “I rode that bike in all kinds of weather. But I was glad to do it because God was giving me my life back.”
Kevin is still at that job, has been clean and sober for 4 years and now has his own apartment. He said, “Once I got out of the way and let God do His thing, my life was truly made new. All my efforts were just making things worse. All the glory goes to Him.” Kevin’s life has been renewed.
