Oh, the Pressure!!!

Every day is different, yet so much the same. How, you may ask... Well, that is the thought I have been pondering on all day today. Let me explain...

I have been fighting a sinus infection for the past three days. This isn't an unusual occurance for me, as I get one about once a month. It's like my body just says, "Hey... It's been long enough. Let's throw another one at her!" So, about once a month, I spend three to five days moping on the couch, feeling miserable, napping all day. And that is exactly what I have done this time.

But, that changed today. I read something that changed my outlook on it all, and it, of course, came out of my favorite book of the Bible:

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." ~2 Corinthians 4:16

I know what you're thinking... Just because I'm having sinus problems doesn't mean I'm "wasting away." But sometimes, even without the physical symptoms, we feel like we are. We face so many pressures in our lives... Career pressure, family pressure, financial pressure, even sinus pressure. And we always want them all to just go away. But how much energy are we willing to put into dealing with these pressures?

If we have to find a job, do we sit on the couch and wait for the right one all day? No... If we are trying to make more money, do we sit around and watch television? I wish... If we are having sinus problems, do we lay in bed and wait for them to go away? No... We take medicine and don't let it get us down!

So why should our relationship with God be any different? We can't just sit around and hope that our relationship will get stronger... We have to work towards a great relationship! We can't do the same thing we do everyday and think that it's enough. We can't expect all the daily renewal we're receiving to take affect without us actually trying to put it into practice.

So, yeah, everyday has within itself different pressures and lessons for us to learn, but every day will end up the same as the last unless we do something to change it. The Message translation begins 2 Corinthians 4:16 like this: "So we're not giving up. How could we!" So... How could we?!?! Do you want to feel the renewal that's taking place daily in your life? Then do it!!!