He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord
and put their trust in him.
Psalm 40:3 (NIV)
Extreme Makeover: Heart Edition
I love a good home improvement show. I also love the 90’s sitcom called Home Improvement. Sadly that show is no longer on the air, but there are now entire television networks dedicated to fixer uppers, flip or flops, and demo days. Give me a game plan on blueprints, white paint, and witty banter leading up to a big reveal. I’ll be a happy and inspired gal.
Before the boom of DIY and shiplap, there was ‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition‘. Remember that show?? The producers would choose a family who had both endured trials and had a felt need for their home to be different. Then they would send the family off on a vacation and start construction on their new home. The team would use local volunteers and work around the clock for a week or so, the deadline for the big reveal upon the homeowners’ return from vacay. Along the way, they would share the family’s story anecdotally, and you always had to watch with both popcorn and tissues within reach. The homeowners would weep through the reveal of their new beautiful and functional home, able to live in a space that finally worked for the needs of their family.
Last week we entered into a brand new year, His promises of fresh mercies and quiet grace and clean slates and new beginnings heavy on the minds of many. Myself included — I can’t stop starting over. And as I welcomed the fresh start of that new year, the show popped into my memory the other day, along with a ‘what-if’ question. What if there was a show titled, ‘Extreme Makeover: Heart Edition‘? It would look quite different from its ‘Home’-sister, but still. The thought stuck with me and what-if questions keep coming to my mind:
- What if we spruced up our exterior, scrubbing out the dusty corners and sweeping out the cobwebs of our hearts?
- What if we widened our doors, throwing them open to our community and neighbors?
- What if we tore down our walls and built a bigger table?
- What if we filled our hearts and homes with the Word of God, writing His commands and impressing His love on the doorframes of our house?
- What if we accepted the help of our neighbors and friends?
- What if we allowed God’s construction crew to come in, knocking down walls and building a stronger foundation and making space for more?
We all have a need, a craving, a hope for an extreme makeover: heart edition. We don’t need a camera crew or disastrous living conditions to qualify for it, either.
We only need to hit our knees and ask the One who holds the master blueprints to do His best design work in and on our hearts.
Leave a Comment
Kayla says
Love this, thank you.
Irene says
Thank you. Just the encouragement I needed today.
Calle364 says
Amen and Amen!
Beth Williams says
Anna,
I, too, love renovation shows. Also love home buying shows. We all need to have a heart renovation from time to time. My prayer is that most of America will open their hearts to God this year. We will have less division amongst ourselves. It only takes a spark to get a fire going and I pray we can have a revival sparking our nation to turn back to God & allowing Him to direct our lives.
Have a blessed 2018!
Blessings 🙂
Debra says
Thank you for this ‘heart’felt sharing – relying on Him with the master blueprint for work in my hear always…
Martha McNeal says
This prayer coupled with a fresh anointing, a baptism of the love of God that we may do the works of Jesus in 2018. “Thy Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven”. His love changes everything.
Anna Rendell says
Beautiful thought, Martha!
Valerie says
What a confirmation for me. Each year I pray & ask the Lord to give me a word for the year – on January 2, I received the word “heart”. I truly “trust” Him to always be “faithful”. Blessings for a wonderful and prosperous new year.
Anna Rendell says
Oh Valerie, I love that! Thanks for sharing.
Kelly R Smith says
I love your renovation list, Anna! It’s the reno list I need for my own heart makeover. It’s all too easy to get lax and let the condition of your heart deteriorate.
Anna Rendell says
Yes and amen. Thankful for an understanding ear and a ‘me too’, Kelly!
Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Anna,
This is a wonderful post to ring in the new year! We spend so much time fixing up exteriors…of our homes…and of our bodies. Most of our resolutions focus on the exterior – like lose 20 lbs. or get a new hair do for the new year. I wholeheartedly agree with you that we could ALL use an extreme make over “heart edition”! God tells us in His Word that He will remove our heart of stone and replace it with a heart of flesh. I would like for my heart to be less like stone and more like soft, warm flesh. God can do anything if we ask Him. Joining with you in asking for an extreme makeover in my heart. Goodbye cobwebs hiding in the chambers of my heart. Happy New Year!
Blessings,
Bev xx
Anna Rendell says
Bye bye dust bunnies!! 🙂 Love you Bev!
Heather says
Thank-you so much Anna – really appreciated! ❤️
Mare Fisk says
Well said…
Jody says
Thank you for a wonderful way to start thinking about the new year. Exactly what I needed. From one MNosten to another!
Anna Rendell says
Jody! Love hearing from a fellow Minnesota girl! Where in MN are you? I’m in the south Metro, the Lakeville/Farmington area 🙂
Angie Randall says
His grace is sufficient. A new beginning. God gives us grace everyday. We are starting a new year. With a new beginning, to be a better you .If you know better, then why not be better. And if you don’t then find a person in your circle that does. Its a gift to honor, respect and adore Jesus. Its only what we do for Jesus that last. Get a whole to his love, you won’t regret it.
Maureen Struss says
Anna
What a beautiful reminder of what I can do to make this year different. Love changes everything, just as the Fathers love through Christ did for me.
Thank you for the reminder of what going to the author of all true change should look like for me this year. “We only need to hit our knees and ask the One who holds the master blueprints to do His best design work in and on our hearts.”
Peace to you,
Maureen S.
Anna Rendell says
Thank you Maureen – may peace be yours as well.
Joan Munro says
Anna, your thoughts and words reflect my heart, too! I have often prayed through the verses just before 3, Psalm 49:1 & 2. I’ve seen how the LORD has led me through the ” mud and miry clay….to give me a new song of praise!”
As this new year began, I faced all of the areas in my heart and mind that needed “makeovers”. My prayer was for a focus verse and I found it in Philippians 4:8…”whatever is true…noble..right.. pure. .lovely…admirable.. if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” I’m truly a Work in Progress!
Penny says
Thank-you Mary,
I hope you all have a blessed day….
Penny
Jin Ai @ Mama Hear Me Roar says
“We only need to hit our knees and ask”. Thanks Anna for the reminder. It’s simple, but it’s so powerful!
Carolyn Queen says
Thank you Anna! I needed this. I want the Lord to do an extreme makeover in my heart and life. Praying for His touch and fresh revelation in my heart, mind, should and spirit. Bless I gsm to you for this timely word.
Carolyn Queen says
Sorry for this miss spelling at the end. I meant for it to read Blessings to you for this timely word.
Having the flu does not make me accurate speller.
Anna Rendell says
I got you, Carolyn 🙂 Thanks for being here and leaving words of encouragement!
Pearl Allard says
I love Fixer Upper and all the shows you mentioned. I loved watching the transformations on Biggest Loser, too. Anna, this hit me: “…making space for more.” Demolition in the heart is always for the ultimate purpose of restoration. God only gives. Taking that to heart. (No pun intended!) Thank you, Anna.
Anna Rendell says
Ooh yes… I’m a sucker for those transformation shows too. And “Demolition in the heart is always for the ultimate purpose of restoration.” <-- YES!!
Michele Morin says
Yes, interior and exterior. Of course, to the God who sees all the way to our hearts, it’s all of a piece.
Blessings to you, Anna.
Kelly says
“I can’t stop starting over.” I love this, it speaks to me. It reminds me of our God who accepts us and loves us and yet desires to transform our hearts. Your words help me to realize that my desires to not stop starting over are actually His work at work in me.
With sincere thanks, Kelly
Nancy Ruegg says
Our own home offers its own analogy for a heart renovation. Three years ago when we bought this house, we had one wall removed (between kitchen and dining room and half of another (into the living room). The open, airy atmosphere created was just what we’d hoped for. My prayer would be that God’s construction crew would come into my heart (‘love the way you expressed that, Anna), and make more space for the fresh wind of the Spirit to breeze through, bringing his joy, peace, and contentment into every corner. Thank you for the memorable analogy, Anna!