Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: YOUTH (04/04/19)
- TITLE: Renewed, Not Gone
By Donna Martelli
04/09/19 -
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ADD TO MY FAVORITES
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
3 Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:1-5 NKJV
“Your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” When eagles become old their feathers break and their claws wither. In order to live longer they need to transform themselves. This transformation is called molting. The eagle chooses a secure spot when molting begins so that it will be safe from predators. It plucks out its feathers and breaks off its beak by pounding it on a rock, and then it rubs off its talons so that they are completely removed from its claws. At this time, it is anything but majestic and beautiful as it once was. It is dependent on other eagles to bring it food because it is unable to fly or hunt. Some eagles die during this painful process. Those that survive the molting process come out of it stronger, sharper and fitter than before.
Like the eagle you have grown older and you have been through a sometimes-painful transformation. You may feel that your outward appearance has been compromised as you have aged, but it’s a fact that your youth is not over, it is renewed like the eagle’s, with new focus, energy and passion. It is a promise from God. What does that mean? Where are you now? Truly it is not like it used to be, but it is better.
Certainly, before, you did not possess the wisdom that you now have. Your youth is renewed like the eagle’s and you have emerged from the transformation a stronger, wiser person, able to help others who are going through what you have been through. You have learned to put away childish things.
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. I Corinthians 13:11 NKJV
It is time to put away those things of your younger years and fully pursue God’s calling on your life. What is He calling you to do now? Why are you hesitating? Don’t you know that wherever He leads you will be the most fantastic adventure of your life? Come on, put away the things of your childhood and exercise those renewed wings. Step out in faith, holding hands with Jesus, your beloved Savior.
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Jenny
A couple of thoughts: Make sure you put the Bible verse in quotation marks. Also instead of having it in the format that you did, I might compact it a bit. At first look, it might be overwhelming to the reader's eye, and I'd hate people to skip over a beautiful piece because of that. I also felt the child verse seemed added in. It didn't really fit with the first part of your awesome message, but felt tacked on maybe to fit the topic more. You didn't need it. You covered the topic in a great, out-of-the-box way, yet still very much on topic. I think I might have ended with the word better, added a prayer instead of that extra verse, and in my opinion, you'd have a homerun.
Your description of the eagle and the pain it endures was powerful. I could so relate. Before reading this, I felt like giving up, but your words touched my heart. My body is older and it hurts horribly, but it's possible better days are ahead.
I thought this was fabulous, and I learned something about the Eagle...wow!
This touched my heart as I'm nearing another birthday next month, I've been doing a lot of reflective inner thinking, this really touched me.
Thanks!
God bless~
God Bless~