Walking in Newness

“Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the traditions of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.  For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”  Colossians 2:8-10

Father, we thank you and praise you for the completing work you did last weekend at the Deeper Still Retreat.  We thank you that the participants are made complete in you.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

The world claims to have answers.  The world claims to have truth.   Pro-choice groups even claim a false hope in stating that there are no long term effects from having an abortion.  These claims are all full of empty deceit. 

Abortion creates holes in a person that nothing in this world can fill.  The participants come in broken pieces and with missing pieces desperate for wholeness.  Christ is the only answer. 

My father has been in the hospital for the last couple of weeks.  He had a knee replacement.  He needed his knee replaced because it was missing.  His knee was completely gone!  He now has a new knee, but his body needs times to adjust to the change.  Psychologically, he is accustomed to not having a knee.  He needs to renew his mind to recognize and embrace his new ability to walk and new wholeness.   The physical therapist uses tools such as walkers and stabilizers to help him adjust and use his new knee until he is secure enough in his newfound wholeness to walk on his own.

The same is true for the abortion wounded heart.  They come to the retreats missing pieces.  Only there is no earthly physician who can repair or replace what is missing.  The wear and tear of life has depleted.  They are broken.  They have searched the world’s methods to find wholeness.  But, any worldly method is temporal at best and destructive at worst.

 

Christ is the only One who can bring wholeness, mend and repair.  He is the only One who can replace what is missing and make new.  All else is a counterfeit.  All else is empty deceit. 

The participants received a wholeness that only Christ can bring.  It may take some time for them to adjust to being whole and embrace their new ability to walk in freedom. 

Lord, we thank you that they do not walk alone.  Lord we thank you that through your word, you continue to renew their minds and that you send other believers alongside them to help stabilize them as they learn to walk in newfound freedom.  Amen.