From a missionary worker in China:
"For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith..." Eph. 3:16-17a
Most workers for our organization must learn a foreign language. For me, it's Mandarin Chinese. While studying, I was intrigued by the phrase "ling xiu" (leeng SHE-oo), which refers to a Christian's daily devotional time.
Although this was new vocabulary, I already had learned both of the characters in different contexts. Ling means "spirit" or "soul." Xiu means "to repair." I had learned xiu with the washing-machine repairman who was coming weekly to keep our ancient model running!
In my notes, I wrote "devotional - spirit repair." What a fitting way to describe our devotional time: repairing the soul by reading God's Word and communing with Him. Like that dilapidated washing machine, my spirit needs the ultimate Repairman. Although I complained about the washer, it was stronger than my own inner man. It needed weekly repair, while I need it daily!
At one point, the repairman explained that the washer was used too often. I laughed inwardly at his solution -- if I could just stop dirty laundry from accumulating, all would be well! What a parallel to how the stresses of life wear away our spiritual vitality just like the never-ending laundry wears out the washer's parts.
We can't stop the stresses of life any more than my family can stop producing dirty clothes. So I keep calling the Repairman to patch up my soul. Our daily "spirit repair" time is what keeps me sharing the gospel even with slow results and using my poor Mandarin when I look foolish. It provides compassion for my city so I can fulfill God's call in my life.
********************************************************************************************************************
It's a time of new beginnings. With the arrival of a new year, we also find the advent of seasons of change. Change can be stressful, even if it's change for the better. To cope with change, and all that 2006 will bring to you, my prayer for you is that of Paul for the Ephesians... that you may be strengthened with might through His Spirit in your inner man (or woman), and that Christ would dwell in your heart through faith.
God bless you all in the year to come... best wishes from my house to yours.