A plethora of words and scriptures have come to mind as I sit to plan my focus word for this bright, new year. As I begin my new season of life, figuring out next steps, healing and repairing my health and wellness from a year of upheaval and stress, so many words seem appropriate as a mantra.

Renew, rededicate, realign, reassess, revamp, repurpose, reinvent, refocus have come up. I began to noticed the pattern that every word I wrote down began with the prefix “Re-.”

Re- in Latin means again, anew, back or a backwards motion. Although I don’t want to look back or go back, perhaps I need to learn some things again to begin life anew. When we’ve made some mistakes in life and get some distance between us and them, it is much easier to see where things went wrong, things we wish we had done differently, said differently or acted upon differently. We can’t change what is done, but we can change what we do moving forward. Finding the bright spot of lessons learned the hard way isn’t fun, but seems necessary for change to occur.

This is going to be the comeback year, to rise and shine in who God made me to be. There may be some words I reuse or repeat, but it’s going to be 52 weeks of re- for me.

“But those who hope in the Lord will RENEW their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31

I want to begin with a renewing of my mind. I am letting go of things that hold me down and keep me from moving forward. Guilt, shame, hurt, anger, sadness all play a part in the story of divorce. But in a comeback story, those words need to change to healing, life-giving words. A fruitful life has to be filled with fruitful words, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I want to reflect those words with my life story.

I’ve read it over and over again that changing your life begins with changing your mind. In Ephesians 4 it says, “you were taught to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, to be made new in the attitude of your minds and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

From the Merriam- Webster Disctionary

renew

verb

re·​new ri-ˈnü  -ˈnyü

renewed; renewing; renews

transitive verb

: to make like new : restore to freshness, vigor

I can’t think of a better way to make like new, restore to freshness and vigor than by changing your mind.

I spent so much of 2022 in survival mode, looking everywhere for ways to feel better and prepare better for my future. As the year went on, I realized that I was being my own worst enemy in creating stressors. Always striving to do more, be more, have more, accomplish more, I was simply running my battery down. There’s no sense pushing water uphill every day. And one day, it was like a switch flipped. I just decided to not try so hard and to be still for a minute to listen to what God was saying. He was telling me to be still and know that He is God. He’s got this.

The renewing of my mind starts with changing it. In realizing HE is God, HE is in control, and HE holds the plans, I get RELIEF in not trying to do HIS job.

So I will begin 2023 with “Renewing my Mind.” Letting God be God and doing my job, which is to follow his plan seems a perfect place to start.

God, help me to trust in you and the plan you have for me. Help me to remember that you are working and have never stopped. Your word is trustworthy and true and I can rest in the promise that you are making all things new. Guide me in all my thoughts that change my life, by changing my mind to focus on you and your will. In Jesus name, Amen.