What Is New With You?

This question is often asked in conversation to help us catch up with a friend. We want to hear what is the recent news. We love to find what is new and hear about what is the latest. The business world understands this insatiable desire to find happiness in newness. McDonalds has a new premium chicken wrap. Taco Bell has a new black bean burrito. These latest products are advertised to lure us into the store. And how about the new automobile advertisements on TV? They make happiness appear to be easy to find with new car keys in our hand. We are excited to think about a new home, new car, new friend, or new job. The prospects of greater satisfaction in life are increased with a fresh experience on the horizon. This hunger for the new can get us into trouble if we think we can find our soul satisfied in new outward material objects and new people. The mint condition wears off of all things and even relationships. We can make a big mistake to think changing these outward things for a newer product or fresh person will meet our needs. This shallow idea of trading in our relationships for a new one can cause us to go from one marriage after another when the brand-new feeling and excitement is over. The Lord wants to fill our deepest need for happiness with a newness of being. This is very different than the newness of possession. He wants to make each of us new in His image and likeness. This can only happen if we are willing to be made new by Him. This is a process of giving up our will for His will each day. This is exciting to me as I near 70 years old. With my Lord's Spirit at work in my character there is new growth and new spiritual adventure with His leadership. I am not done yet. His Spirit is on the side of newness. To experience His freshness each day I need to embrace newness of prayer, service, worship, learning, and activities. Yes, I need to get out of the rut of old habits. The death of my spiritual growth is my comfort zone of just doing it the way I always have in the past. A big part of trust in God is expressed in embracing a new journey or a brand-new generous way of giving. So, my question to all of us if we want to be alive in the Spirit is, "What is new with you?". Let me know so I can rejoice with your baby steps out of the comfort zone into a scary and promising up to the minute experience with our Creative Spirit. So, what is new with you? I do not mean what new object or status or person you possess. What is new in your being?