Daily Renewal

"All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."~II Corinthians 4:15-17 NIV


Sometimes despite our best efforts, we may find ourselves in a dental chair with our dentist hovering over us reaching into our mouth with that dreaded drill. Today, I was a victim of a 25 year old filling that was leaking into what was left of my healthy back tooth. The compound in my tooth used so long ago was strong, but day after day, the stress caused the filling to chip away and break down. I settled into the chair, and then my dentist appeared with drill in hand.


As my dentist was drilling, I concentrated on relaxing and seeking that inner part of me where the Holy Spirit dwells so that I could do everything possible to keep the anxiety afar. I said a prayer for strength, and I knew the prayer was heard.  My dentist shared that he could still remember the day he put in the original filling. He told me at that time he felt I needed a root canal, but we would see how long the filling would take care of the problem. I made up my mind at that moment that I was going to do everything possible to avoid a root canal. He made the decision to remove all the old filling, so the drilling continued. When he left the room for a short moment, I moved my tongue, and I could feel that terrible emptiness. My tooth seemed vulnerable to anything at that point. Without a new filling, it would have no hope for survival. It would not be able to withstand the daily regiment I put it through. As he filled the tooth with a new compound, I felt such a feeling of relief to know that my tooth has a great chance to survive in the years to come. My tooth was renewed and was now protected by this compound that dwelled within it and filled it completely. 


I thought back to that original moment when I concentrated on the Holy Spirit coming to help me with the anxiety as the procedure began. I trusted that with His strength I could face the ominous drill. I knew it wasn't going to be easy, but, I had a peace inside that I wasn't in this alone. My tooth without that filling could not survive in this world. It wouldn't be able to withstand the pressure of all that is expected of it. It would be broken and useless in no time. 


The verses above remind us that God is inwardly renewing us daily. Our bodies are the place that the Holy Spirit dwells within us. Without the Holy Spirit in our lives, we are very vulnerable, like my tooth, to not being able to withstand the pressures and expectations we deal with each day. The Holy Spirit goes with us and keeps our heart and mind safe from all we face. We know it's not always going to be easy, but we know that what we have inside won't chip away or break down. As the verse says, "the light and momentary troubles are achieving us for an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." We will have those moments that are difficult, but we trust that the Holy Spirit is that solid core inside that fills us completely and walks with us every step of the way, and we know eternal glory awaits when the walk is done.


Holy Spirit,


As outwardly, we find times that we suffer or face challenges, may your inward presence that dwells within us remind us that we are never alone. Thank you for renewing us daily for the journey to eternal glory.


Amen.