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Vision

The Renovaré Vision is simple and straightforward: a life of flaming love for God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength” and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:29 – 31).

It is a vision of genuine, solid, substantive life in the Kingdom of God, available to all. Here. Now. 

It is a vision of the continuing, experiential reality of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17).

It is a vision of right love, right desire, and right passion rooted and grounded in God. 

It is a vision of Jesus high and lifted up, drawing all peoples to himself and to his work here on earth (John 3:14).

It is a vision of us constantly returning to our first love, Jesus, and falling in love with him over and over and over again (Rev. 2:4 – 5). It is a vision of an ongoing forming, conforming, transforming life in and through Jesus — a transformational character development into Christlikeness. 

It is a vision of radical, life-giving community life; an all-inclusive community of loving persons gathered in the power and fellowship of the Trinitarian presence. 

This is a vision of life. For all persons, at all times, in all places. We are never to leave off pursuing this life. Though it be difficult we seek hard after it. And in the seeking we are transformed into people who can learn to love God with all of our heart and soul and mind and strength. We can learn to love our neighbor as ourselves. We can learn to love our enemies. We can learn to overcome evil with good. We can learn to do what is right. We can learn these things. Renovaré is committed to helping people everywhere find just such a life.

To be sure, this life is not automatic, though God bestows innumerable graces upon the earnest seeker. Still, developing and sustaining a life of loving abandonment to God involves an overall plan of living, incorporating special practices which care for the inner person. These are the familiar Disciplines of the spiritual life. These we put into regular practice: prayer and solitude and study and service and worship and confession and celebration and more. 

Through all of the vicissitudes of life we must never allow anything to replace this vision of white-hot love for God. It is our first and our last order of business. Nothing is more important than this. Nothing. Not good deeds. Not faithful service in the church. Not missional labor in the name of Christ. Nothing. We love God alone. We adore God alone. We worship God alone. We are blinded to all other loyalties.

Richard J. Foster

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