A Fresh Coat of Paint

Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.—Psalm 51:12 ESV

With the year coming to a close, many of us will be looking back over the last twelve months. Whether it was a year that left you with lingering grief and a broken heart, or a year filled with unexpected blessings that left you breathless. Either way, the old is coming to an end, and God is ready to deliver a fresh, new year.

Receiving God's Gift by Believing and Giving Up Control

As a writer, my creative ideas fly in at warp speed, but it’s the refining process that makes the words jump off the page. Editing and revision are where the hard work begins. The process of editing is chaotic — words are crossed out, sentences relocated, paragraphs reordered, and some deleted. This reminds me of how God works to renew spirits and restore hearts in the lives of those who walk with Him.

However, the business of revision is laborious. Between editing and rewrites, I often become distracted, sometimes losing my way. Each time I sit down to write, I pray for God to see me through. He never fails to make a way in the wilderness, and He sets me firmly on the path He prepared for me. I am forever grateful for His faithfulness to me. (Isaiah 43:18-19 NASB)

Employing traditional correction tools for quick mistake coverage

I use an old-school product during this process. This convenient tool is available in two forms: “correction tape” or “quick-dry correction fluid,” both of which come with an adorable, tiny paintbrush. According to the ads, this product is waterproof, hides all ink, and covers mistakes instantly.

This handy tool reminds me of the words in Psalm 51:7 (ESV ): “Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” This is not just good news, it’s the best news ever!

The Paintbrush of Divine Restoration: An Analogy of Heart Renewal

I’m certainly not suggesting that this adorable little paintbrush can wash away our sins — but if you look closely, there is an analogy to be found. Isn’t this how God restores our hearts to align with His? Picture Jesus standing before you, looking at your life. With His paintbrush in hand, He paints over your sins. But, not only does the paint cover your sins — His supernatural paint erases them for good.

The Savior leaves nothing to chance as He takes on the tedious work of transforming your soul. Unlike humans, God won't threaten to expose your sins and strip away the topcoat of His coverage.

Look up and fix your eyes on Jesus. The Savior stands before you with the renewal, restoration, and blessings only He can give. His gifts never age, go out of style, or break. Instead, they give the joy of His salvation and will uphold us with a willing spirit (Psalm 51:12).

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Prayer: Dear Jesus, help us to keep our eyes fixed on you. Open our hearts to your goodness and let us receive the fullness of your joy and the restoration of our spirits. You alone are our salvation, and our hearts overflow with gratitude. Praise be to God, Amen.

Your Turn: God wants to restore our hearts and minds. As you look over the last twelve months, what pops into mind? If you’re drawing a blank, ask God to reveal where He has directed, corrected and transformed you over the year.