We recently renovated our house. By renovated I mean every room and surface got an overhaul and a few new rooms were added! It has taken months of time, energy, planning and focus.

Unintentionally, at the same time I was undergoing a spiritual ‘renovation’. I had come to some cross roads in my life and really need to scrutinise just what my Christian walk had come to be. I am a church kid, my parents were (and still are) dedicated members and if church was open, we were there.   Christianity has been the norm for the best part of my life but I had found myself just going through the motions. Don’t get me wrong, I certainly held fast to Jesus as my Saviour and overall my life was lived within the boundaries of good Christian values but there was a distinct lack of fire and passion!

Along side our house renovations, I was pouring focus, energy and heart into seeking God and His will for my life. I spent more time studying the Word in the last year than I probably did in the past 10 years combined! I became so spiritually hungry that I could not get ‘enough’ of spending time with God in His Word, in prayer and by listening to sermons of men and women of faith. I finally found what it was to have a living, breathing relationship with God. The power, joy, peace and strength He has poured into my life is like nothing I have ever experienced before.

This personal, internal, spiritual ‘renovation’ has poured out in my life in many ways; just as our family home looks vastly different post-reno so does my spirit and soul! I made some major changes in what I would give my time to and I distinctly remember the point where I surrendered all to the Lord. I wanted Him in every decision, I did not, do not, want to direct my own path but rather I want His loving influence guiding me through each day.

Christianity is not meant to be blah, it is meant to be full of the fire and passion of the Holy Spirit and as 2017 unfolds, I am excited to see just what the Lord will do this year….