Eyes Open to Renewal
By Cristiane Aparecida Pinheiro da Silva
Campinas, SP, Brazil
Para ler este artigo em português, clique aqui.
Editor’s Note: We end 2022 with a five-day devotional series written by several sisters in ICOC churches in Brazil. May these devotional thoughts encourage your hearts as we enter 2023!
“My ears had heard about you, but now my eyes have seen you.”
Job 42:5 (NIV)
Are you discouraged about reading the Bible? Does it seem that there is nothing new to learn in the Scriptures? Is there a lack of enthusiasm in your daily time with God? Is it hard for you to even find time to be with Him?
Perhaps my experience will help you make choices that will transform this situation.
In looking at the stages of my spiritual life, you'll probably be able to relate.
First, I studied the Bible, was baptized, and started my walk with God. I was in love with the Bible. There were many discoveries and transformations in this first phase—the famous first love for God. This love was strong, bold, and full of spirit.
“When the Lord brought the captives back to Zion, it was like a dream. Then our mouths filled with laughter and our tongues sang with joy. Even in other nations it was said: “The Lord has done great things for these people.”
Psalms 126:1-2 (NIV)
“As they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly caught up with Philip. The eunuch saw him no more and, full of joy, went on his way.”
Acts 8:39 (NIV)
Then, our faithful and loving God led me to the next phase, in which I went through challenges and trials. I learned a lot in the trials, I built spiritual muscles that are necessary to fight the good fight and receive the crown of justice.
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”
James 1:2-3 (NIV)
The tests served to increase my self-knowledge, to raise my self-esteem and produced perseverance that generated respect. I found myself mentoring the younger sisters in my sector, as I had studied the Bible with almost all of them. At this stage, I read the Bible a lot, looking for answers, principles, and deeper convictions.
But over time, I experienced a discouragement in my Bible reading, as if there was nothing new to learn from the Bible.
Regardless of what stage of spiritual life you are in today, reflect on your intimacy with God. When was the last time you (by yourself) found a pearl in the Bible?
Thanks to God and inspired by my husband, I made a very simple decision. I decided to read the whole Bible in its entirety, from Genesis to Revelation, without a plan or a theme. So I am walking day by day, reading chapter by chapter in my time with God.
After 29 years of being a disciple and at the age of 52, I live a wonderful, transforming experience as I am experiencing again this first love for God!
I spend time with God every morning. I miss it if I don't. I protect my time to read the Bible. There’s been so much growth: I'm more courageous, daring, excited, happy. My speech is more focused and I have the courage to share the pearls I find. I always share this decision and the fruits that resulted from it with the brothers and sisters. I want everyone to have this experience; after all, if I can do it, anyone can!
“The Lord entrusts his secrets to those who fear him, and leads them to know his covenant.”
Psalms 25:14 (NIV)
Really, I am being fed by the Word of God.
“Jesus replied, “Whoever drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I will give him will never be thirsty again. On the contrary, the water I give him will become in him a fountain of water welling up to eternal life.”
John 4:13-14 (NIV)
My new beginning was a wonderful journey, full of discoveries and treasures here and there and with the perfect companion, our renewing God. This trip has no turning back, when it ends in Revelation, I will start again in Genesis.
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and grant you grace; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV)
I want to encourage you to also have your new beginning, start your wonderful journey with our renewing God!
Questions for Reflection:
- Can you recognize the different stages of your Christian life? Take some time to write them out and describe them.
- What are you willing to do to reinvigorate your relationship with God?
3 Comments
Jan 1, 2023, 5:05:39 PM
Melissa - Thank you Cristiane. I was particularly excited to read this line in your devotional, “Regardless of what stage of spiritual life you are in today, reflect on your intimacy with God.” It is God who is so intimate with us, giving us Jesus (deity in human form), forgiveness, love, mercy, goodness … and revealing to us all this and so much more over and over, day after day. It inspires me to want to be as intimate as I can be with him and with his children; to lay my heart, soul and mind bare before him and our family. Thank you for reminding us that this is our opportunity to be close to God every day. Sending love from a sister in Boise, Idaho, USA.
Dec 31, 2022, 3:04:57 PM
Wendy Hislop - DearChristiane, Thank you for your devotional, It is good to continually reflect on our relationship with god and keep our hearts in check to submit to him in our lives in order to grow. And have a heart for others, and take the reins. Love in Christ from Sydney NSW Australia
Dec 29, 2022, 6:47:30 AM
Rosie Alejandro - Christiane thank you so much for this devotional, it's so timely for the new year coming up...to renew our passion for God's word is so important...baptized in 1995 I've had to do the same many times, we do have our seasons and the best parts are finding new joys in the Word, it's like discovering Jesus all over again! I'm in the process of writing a free guide/workbook on how to do deep bible studies to share with sisters, so reading your devotional today was perfect timing!