Before You Do – Renew
I hope this email finds you enjoying summer!
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For many of us, we are at the beginning of a busy summer – after a year and a half of a pandemic, an election year, racial division, and just plain chaos, confusion, anxiety, depression, loneliness, and grief upon grief; concerning so many things!
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Even though we are coming out of a significantly reduced schedule, some of us are just plain ready for rest! I usually head to the beach or to the other extreme to the mountains to find places of rest. In May, I hosted three back-to-back “Refresh Retreats” at a Gulf Coast Beach house. I loved my time at these retreats; as I was serving other women, I didn’t have the time for my own reflection, remembering, repenting, and refreshing. I need to create some margin for a readjustment and renewal time. My spirit craves it.
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In the media-driven world, we tend to create an image that others will see that’s usually positive, successful, and always moving forward! Even if we are posting our weaknesses, reality can be subjective. Bombarded with the theme: “You do You!” You, you, you! Frankly, of late, I’ve just been sick of myself! Have you ever been there? Tired of focusing on what you think you should be or what you know you should be. IF THIS IS YOU, THEN it’s time for renewal! Join me!
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Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. (NASB)
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- Remember and ask the Lord to enable you to remember. Remember the broken places for healing and to adjust your thinking. Remember who you are and whose you are. Remember where you and Christ are seated. (Ephesians 2:6, Colossians 3:1)
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- Remove everything that the Holy Spirit reveals. Do not allow one bit of your flesh to continue to rule. If you are wrestling with abuse and woundedness, then get the help you need and do it. If it’s a secret sin, bring it to the light! Get accountable to a like-minded sister. If it’s a lack of discipline (which is sin), then stop it! If it’s a physical ailment, seek out the best way to deal with your physical condition and do what God leads you to do. If it’s unbelief, then cry out to Him and ask for help! The point here is to REMOVE whatever keeps you from being whom HE has created you to be.
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- Repent of revealed sin. In other words, don’t just say you are sorry and then return to the place where you have always been. Do the work of repentance that results in transformation. This type of repentance requires accountability and an open hand approach to someone or a group of someones that can hold you accountable to change how you live until you are strong enough to continue on your journey. (Galatians 6:1-2; Colossions 3:5-11) When was the last time you spent time just asking the Lord if there is anything you need to repent of? (Contact me, I have a resource I’ll share with you.)
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- Replenishing your spirit with the fresh, active, living Word of God. Real change happens when you and I are deeply grounded in the Word of God. Not just the study of the Word of God or the preparation for the next Bible Study or a verse a day band-aid but deeply replenishing your spirit and soul with the abiding truth of the Word of God.
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- Reflection has to be part of continual renewal. As ministry wives, to keep the pace that we live, we must carve out margin. Learn to say, “No.” Ministry life leaves little margin. Everyone will pull and take your time. You and I must make our relationship with the Lord priority over everyone and everything else in our lives. Look for ways and opportunities for you to pull away for moments to allow the God of this universe – your ABBA – to speak to your spirit. It will be in those moments that you will allow Him to measure your life.
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You do what your ABBA wants you to do! You BE who your ABBA says you are!
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Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. Colossians 3:17 (NASB)
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Diane Nix is the director and founder of Contagious Joy 4 Him, a network of encouragement to ministry wives around the globe. Offering “Free Refresh Retreats” and a safe place for ministry wives to share their hearts with other like-minded women. Thirty-seven years ago, she married her husband, pastor/professor, Dr. Preston Nix. He is a professor of evangelism and evangelistic preaching at NOBTS. They have two biological daughters, two spiritual-grown daughters, two special grands, and two son’s in-laws.[su_spacer]
Growing up, Diane’s life was marked by addiction, abuse, loss, and dysfunction. She remembers being drawn to spiritual things. Searching for the One who could bring peace, she found her Savior, Jesus Christ! And soon after her salvation, she surrendered to ministry. She has never looked back!
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Diane has lost all material possessions on two different occasions. Once by a house fire and another by Hurricane Katrina. She has survived a life-threatening illness, with aftereffects that still impact her today. A speaker and author of the book, When God’s Woman Wants to Give Up! Diane sheds light on “never giving up” in the midst of trials. She is also a contributing author to the cj4h.org blog, and most recently Broadman and Holman’s Daily Devotional for Women and The Psalms and Proverbs Devotional for Women. She is an author, speaker, vlogger, and blogger. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @nixheart and on her ministry Facebook: contagiousjoy4him.com, Instagram & Twitter: @contagiousjoy4him or cj4h.org