Jan 1 Devotion: Renewal

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

         I have been a big proponent of searching out the definitions of words as an important part of my Bible study. If we understand what the words mean that God chose to use in his word, then we can better understand why he chose them. These definitions can show us the depth of God’s grace toward man.

         I also believe that simplicity is helpful. The Bible tells us this in 2 Corinthians 1:12. “For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.”  So, I not only look for the depth but the simplicity of truth. Man can certainly over complicate things to the point of changing the meaning of something to what was not intended. Let us look at a word in Psalm 51:10 as we begin this new year of 2026. The word is “renew”.

         Let us consider that January 1^st is just the day after December 31^st. There is no magic to be found on the first day of the year. However, it can be a time that causes us to reflect on our past and certainly consider our path for the future. We accumulate baggage along life’s travels, and it is good to unload the unneeded and reload with what works so that we might correct our direction. It is in that idea that we see the word “renew” come into focus.

         The context of Psalm 51 is, David has sinned against God, this sin has been pointed out to him, and he now comes to the Lord in contrition and repentance. He had accumulated a lot of baggage, and it needed to be unloaded by the forgiveness that was possible through the Lord. He then needed to be renewed back to the place where his fellowship with his God was clean and pure. It needed to be back to the place where it was simple faith, obedience, worship, and to being the man with an unfettered heart for God. He needed to be NEW AGAIN. (This is the simple definition of “renew”.) Until repentance and renewal took place, David could not go forward and be what God desired for him to be. All the baggage weighed him down. The baggage controlled his walk in this world, and he needed to turn to God so he could be unloaded and then be renewed so he could face what he would face next with the confidence in knowing that he was right with the Lord. (Renewing is a marvelous result of God’s grace and mercy.)

         So, as we enter a new year, we need to stop and examine where we are with the Lord. Through genuine repentance, we need to let the Lord unload our baggage and then, we need to be renewed with pure fellowship that empowers us for the days ahead. We need to be NEW AGAIN.

         Let me add a postscript by asking a question. How often do we need to be renewed? Do we need to consider this only as we begin a new year? The answer is, we need to be renewed whenever our baggage has made our fellowship with the Lord less than it should be. When the newness wears off, we need to be renewed. When the newness has become tainted, we need to be renewed. Let us keep short accounts with the Lord.

2 Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

In Christ’s Service,

Bro. Adrian Moore

2 Cor. 4:5