by Kala Loptien

Remodeling and Restoring

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on the Sound Cloud link.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”
Psalm 51:10-12 English Standard Version

The new home we purchased needed work. There were solid bones; and the builder created a wonderful footprint. But the inside was in need of some repair…and a major refresh. We could see the potential, and we knew God had led us to this very house.

So the renovation started; and we are still in the midst of the updates. It is our wonderful, work-in-progress abode. We know it will take time and it cannot happen in one day. (Though, I am terribly impatient with projects and want things done yesterday!) This is all sounding familiar, isn’t it? We were created by a perfect builder with a wonderfully-brilliant blueprint in mind. However, our earthly bodies are flawed. As much as we might consume ourselves with the exterior; our interior is in need of rehab.

It’s often difficult to land on a good contractor’s schedule. Beyond that, it can be challenging to keep lines of communication active. The good news about our Maker and Lord is that He can be accessed at any moment. We can bring our requests. We can bring our regrets, our sins and our shame before His merciful, redemptive throne. He knocks on the door of our hearts, ready to come in and begin the remodel. As His Word reminds us, He restores a right/willing/steadfast spirit within us. We are refreshed by His gift of grace thanks to Jesus Christ; and we can walk with supreme confidence of the hope we have in our God.

Sometimes – most times – the project that is our very heart and soul takes a lot longer than we’d prefer. But the work He’s doing is for our good. The plans are prosperous. The grand reveal…perfect.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado