Restoration of the heart, mind, body (health), soul and spirit. Restoration of relationships. Restoration of things taken from you prematurely or unjustly. Restoration of your hopes and dreams. Sometimes it feels like your world is crumbling right before your eyes--or it may have already crumbled--and you feel completely hopeless. But, you need to remember that there is always hope for restoration in some shape or form.
Things may not be in the state or condition you had hoped or planned them to be right now, in this season, or even today, but take heart for restoration is possible and will come. Like I wrote yesterday, "don't give up" because you need to go through the process and will be glad to see the restoration. Restoration is a process that takes time and effort. While restoration of some things happens instantly, it doesn't always happen overnight. Whatever needs to be restored may involve just you... but other times it involves engaging other people in the process. Whatever role you and/or other people have, communication is essential as well as working together to achieve the restoration desired. If it's just you, then you need to talk yourself through the process and if you need to call on Jesus, then so be it. If the restoration involves other people, then you need to make the strides to speak with them. Don't delay, but be wise in finding opportune times to engage.
Restoration comes with changes that need to be made and it also brings changes that need to be maintained. Embrace the changes because that will help in the process of getting to that place of complete restoration. As I started to write this morning, one of my favorite songs came to mind: "I will restore" and it's a song I often sing to encourage myself when I am in that state where I need restoration of some kind.
Today, think about what needs to be restored in your life. Could it be as simple (though complicated) as having peace and joy about a situation? A relationship? A dream that has been lying dormant because things didn't work out the way you thought they would? What steps do you need to take as part of that restoration process? Is it to exercise or reignite your faith? To make that "dreaded" phone call, which won't be as bad as you think or imagine it to be? Should you be working on simply changing your mindset so that you can begin the process of self-evaluation which will lead to the discovery of areas that need restoration?
A few scriptures to remind you that you are never on this journey of restoration alone:
"He refreshes and restores my soul (life);He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake." (Psalm 23:3)
"For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord, because they have called you an outcast: ‘It is Zion, for whom no one cares!’" (Jeremiah 30:17)
"I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you. “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame." (Joel 2:25-26)
"And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you." (1 Peter 5:10)
Go forth... RESTORE and BE RESTORED!
