DIYs. They can be absolutely wonderful or mere chaos. I recently decided to take on a do-it-yourself project, and I must say, I’m glad I did. After recently renovating my kitchen, I realized my kitchen table no longer matched the rest of the room. I like my table, though. It fills the space perfectly, and I didn’t want to search for a new one. No need to search for a new table, though, because I knew it would feel right at home again with some paint and a little time. I made the decision that my table would stay but would just be repurposed for something new.

Does something in your life need to be repurposed? Maybe it’s you, your heart, or your mind. While sometimes we think it would be easier to throw everything away and start over, God can take the now and make it new. With a little time and endurance, we can take steps toward something new.

A mind stuck on a past occurrence can become a mind fixed on the new that’s ahead. A troubled heart can become a hopeful heart. An ordinary day can become joyful when you take time to notice the little things that bring you a smile.

Repurposing my table was a process. Just as we allow Jesus to transform our hearts and minds, it is a daily process. My do-it-myself project took a couple of steps. I sanded, and then I painted.

We have to take off the old and put on the new.

And put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

Colossians 3:10

When we are in relationship with Christ, we can’t help but want to grow and become the best version of who He designed us to be. As I sanded away the gloss of the table, I thought about how sometimes I have tried to cover up with gloss. I thought an artificial gloss would do. However, when we try to hide, others can see right through the gloss.

But the real shine comes from Jesus. When we take time for the process, vulnerably but earnestly relying on Jesus to examine our hearts and minds that hold onto to broken things of our past, we find our true shine.

To find wholeness in my personal journey with Christ, I had to disassemble the past of bad thinking and reassemble my mind with truth. This is a process that takes time, but the more I was consistent, the more I began to see myself changing into a new person. I no longer wanted the artificial gloss. I wanted my shine to come from the joy that is only found in Jesus.

When we allow God to “sand” our hearts and minds, we begin to see our true selves, who God designed us to be.

Once I had sanded the gloss away from my kitchen table and chairs, it was time for the next step, some paint. I started with primer first because I wanted to be sure my paint would stick.

Primer can help make the paint look its best. The Word of God is our primer. It is the truth that will always stick. When we start our days with the truth of God’s word, we position ourselves to be our best selves. Our best selves do not come from trying to polish ourselves with perfection. Rather, our best selves come when we take time to be in the presence of God’s love.

Once I had the primer on my do-it-myself project, I was getting hopeful. While I wasn’t finished yet, I began to see the transformation.

The same holds true for you and me as we allow Jesus to change and mold us into who we’re designed to be. Every step of the way, transformation is taking place. In the waiting, He is growing. In the refining, He is redeeming.

While it took several coats of paint to complete my table and chairs, before long, it was complete. My do-it-myself project was finally finished. The glossy oak had been transformed into a beautiful white.

Jesus has a great purpose for you. Repurposing yourself for something new is far worth the time and endurance. He can take our old and make something brand new.