Renew | Peony Project

Can I tell you a secret?? January was always my least favorite month growing up. I was the girl who started singing Christmas songs in July so the month after my favorite time of year never really ranked on my top 10 list! 
As I've gotten older though, I've started to change my outlook on January a little bit. Now days I get excited to print out the new calendar and plan out all of the things I'd like to accomplish during the new year. This year I was actually a teensy bit (just a teensy bit, mind you) excited to take down the Christmas tree and pack up all the decorations--GASP.  It could be that the older wiser me now realizes that three days to mourn the passing of your favorite holiday does just as well as thirty one and that's why my attitude about said thirty one days has changed. 
But I'd also like to think that my attitude about the whole year is different. Now I look at January with new eyes--as a month of renewal before the new year gets into full swing. 

Original image by my talented "other parents" 

Which is why when I saw this month's Peony Project prompt was renew, I knew I had to join in. When I think of renew, I think of spring...when the flowers are just starting to poke their heads out of the snow, the days get warmer, the snow begins to melt and the streams begin to flow again. I think of something broken being made whole again. 

I love that as a Christian, renew means that Lord makes me whole again. One of my very favorite Bible verses, and my life verse for the last few years-- Isaiah 40:31--speaks about this very best kind of renewal. 

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; 

they shall run, and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

It's such an encouragement for me to know that when I'm downhearted and spent with the affairs of life, He is always there to renew my strength. 

WHAT DOES RENEW MEAN TO YOU? 

PS: if you're wondering about the Peony Project, a community of women who love Jesus AND blogging, check out Betsy's blog and her post here! We'd love to have you join us!