A New Coat of Paint

Over the course of the last week I briefly re-entered the world of employment. It's been great actually, giving me something to do for once whilst earning a little money at the same time. I was painting a fence for one family in my Church, and as I worked I was also reminded of a fundamental principle of my faith. So let's talk fences...

I'm sure everybody has seen a fence at some point in their life. Maybe you've even painted one yourself! It's also easy enough to remember a worn down, old and battered fence that we've come across in the past. Just imagine a fence - old, discoloured and worn out. It just needs a good lick of paint.
I want to make the metaphor that those old fences are me and you. All of us.

Day to day, we get worn down and eventually worn out completely. All our problems, worries, fears and struggles in our lives leave us broken, faded and discoloured. Whether it's physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually, we become exhausted. At these low points we're exactly how an old, broken and faded fence may look. So what to do? Well if we think of a fence, when it gets to a stage where it's completely worn out then the only thing to do is to give it a new coat of paint. It's not any different for us either. We need a new coat of paint, and the only way to get this is from our Father God.

God gives us energy when we're tired and peace when we're unsettled. He takes away our fears and worries, instead giving us reassurance and comfort. Isn't that just like a new coat of paint? We're transformed, not by paint, but by the Holy Spirit's power in us, restoring us to full potential to become more like the men and women of Christ that God has called us to be. This time of restoration, when we are "painted" by God, is vital for every person serious about their faith. We cannot go deeper in our relationships with Jesus without taking time with Him regularly.

'Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.'
- Colossians 3 v10

I'm not a morning person. I'll not lie, and the people that know me can testify that I prefer staying in my bed until lunch time. So the days that I was working, I was getting up around 9am. Not too early you may think. However, it meant that I wasn't fitting in my time with God before I left for work. This wouldn't be a problem in itself as long as I had it later in the day of course. Yet, through my own negligence and laziness, I ended up not reading my Bible or praying and this became a pattern for the few days I was working. Even after a couple of days I noticed a negative change in my own attitude: I was tired, easily angered and more likely to fall into sin.

I've been reminded of the importance this week of spending regular time in the presence of God and being restored by Him. Unlike a fence that gets a new coat of paint not so often, I personally believe we need a new coat of paint every day. If we don't get it then we end up battered and worn down by life - just like an ugly, old fence battered by the elements over time.

Take time with the Lord your Father God, 
and get a new coat of paint.