Job 29:2 Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;

With these words Job continues to tell his story of his glory days.

Job 29:20 My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.

Ah, the glory days, the vigor of youth, daring confidence, and a glowing look at all the good we did without a worry or concern for anything negative. It is after all our memory, our telling, it is our story.

Just be careful in telling it around anyone that was there during those days. It might not look the same through the eyes of others. Even if it was, what of it? What does all that have to do with today?

Isaiah 43:19a Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it?

Job’s disclaimer was that he walked with God and suddenly all the blessings that came from that relationship were withheld from him. Job refused to believe that the withheld blessing had anything to do with his actions or attitudes. It was God’s right to do as He pleased.

Job 1:22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

As I study Job and his reactions to his circumstances, I see different things at different times. Maybe it is because my situation changes and I have a new perspective. This is what I see today.

Reflective memory can blind me to what God is doing in my life this day that is a new thing.

Or, looking back is not looking up.

Job’s circumstances were extremely difficult. I must admit they were worse than mine today. My situation is not a character in a book, it is real and it is present.

The same lesson still applies.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

A do over is inadequate to describe being in Christ. A do over is the same man doing different things. A makeover in Christ is not merely a new hairdo, weight loss, and new close, it becoming a new creature, a new being.

Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

I was a nonconformist in my former life. I was my own man. If I thought I saw another like me, I would make sure he knew I was different. I was not going to be anyone’s copycat.

When I surrender to Christ I didn’t have to decide what to change, I didn’t even know how to change. Thanks be to God that He took care of all that for me.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Ephesians 4:23-24 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

How was I made new? By the effectual workings of the Word of God.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

Ephesians 5:26-27 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.