In our video games, there is a massive difference between “restarting” a game and “respawning” in a game. While the idea of pushing “restart” when things get out of control and the difficulty level ramps up may sound good in theory, this temporary solution would also erase ALL of our progress… all of the experience our character gained, the skills they learned, and even the relationships they have built. While “respawning” doesn’t change the things that are going on around us, it does change US… replenishing our health, refilling our ammo, resetting the damage done to our armor, and allowing us to keep the knowledge of where things went wrong so we can do things differently this time around.

Many times in my life I’ve prayed for a ”restart” without understanding all I would lose if that prayer was answered… but in His infinite wisdom, the Lord granted me a cleansed heart instead of a brand new start. The Lord is faithful to “respawn” the heart of His repentant children after each failure and mistake, and while it may not change the repercussions of the choices we previously made, He does renew our spirits so we can try again. Let’s surrender the mistakes of yesterday to Him and allow Him to cleanse any pain or shame we are carrying. He respawns our hearts as a new creation from the inside out.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Ezekiel 36:26-27

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