幾千年來，中醫一直採用珍珠粉去除角質，就是用磨成粉狀的珍珠去掉皮膚表層的死皮。在羅馬尼亞有一種泥巴成為廣受歡迎的去角質劑，據說它可以使皮膚恢復年輕和光澤。在世界各地，人們使用各式各樣的方法來護理肌膚，他們相信即使是最黯淡無光的皮膚亦能煥然一新。

然而，我們為了保養皮膚而採用的種種方法，只能帶給我們短暫的滿足感。更重要的是，我們要讓內在的生命保持健康強壯。作為基督徒，我們可以藉著耶穌，使內在的生命得到更新。使徒保羅寫道﹕「我們⋯⋯身體雖然日漸衰殘，內在的生命卻日日更新」（哥林多後書4章16節，當代譯本修訂版）。當我們內心充滿恐懼、焦慮和傷痛時，每天所面對的種種挑戰就會讓我們心情沉重。反之，當我們「不是顧念所見的，乃是顧念所不見的」（18節），即不再只看今生的苦難，而是專注未來的榮耀，那麼內在的生命便能得到更新。我們可以將每天的憂慮交託給上帝，並祈求上帝讓我們的生命重新展現聖靈所結的果子，包括仁愛、喜樂、和平（加拉太書5章22-23節）。當我們將煩惱卸給上帝，讓祂的靈透過我們散發光采，祂就會使你我內在的生命日日更新。

Chinese medicine has practiced pearl powder exfoliation for thousands of years, using ground pearls to scrub away dead cells resting at the top of the skin. In Romania, rejuvenating therapeutic mud has become a widely sought-after exfoliant that’s purported to make skin youthful and glowing. All over the world, people use body care practices they believe will renew even the dullest of skin.

The tools we’ve developed to maintain our physical bodies, however, can only bring us temporary satisfaction. What matters more is that we remain spiritually healthy and strong. As believers in Jesus, we’re given the gift of spiritual renewal through Him. The apostle Paul wrote, “Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16). The challenges we face daily can weigh us down when we hold on to things like fear, hurt, and anxiety. Spiritual renewal comes when we “fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen” (v. 18). We do this by turning our daily worries over to God and praying for the fruit of the Holy Spirit—including love, joy, and peace—to emerge anew in our lives (Galatians 5:22–23). When we release our troubles to God and allow His Spirit to radiate through us each day, He restores our souls.