Restoration has been on my mind a lot lately so I thought I’d share some scriptures that focus on restoration. They’ve helped me and I hope that they help you as well.

Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit. (Psalm 51:12 CSB)

But I will bring you health and will heal you of your wounds – this is the Lord’s declaration for they call you outcast – Zion whom no one cares about. (Jeremiah 30:17 CSB)

I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust ate, the young locusts, the destroying locust, and the devouring locust – my great army that I sent against you. You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied. You will praise the name of the Lord your God who as dealt wondrously with you. My people will never be again be put to shame. (Joel 2:25-26 CSB)

Yet I will certainly bring health and healing to it and will indeed heal them. I will let them experience the abundance of true peace. I will restore the fortunes of Judah and of Israel and will rebuild them as in former times. (Jeremiah 33:6-7 CSB)

After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and doubled his previous possessions. (Job 42:10 CSB)

“Where are we going?” It’s a question that has been asked over and over again usually by children of their parents because they want to have some control over their destination. Sometimes the parents tell them and other times they keep the kids in the dark asking for trust simply because they are the parent. That’s how God wants us to live…in complete and utter trust in Him but that’s not always what we do.

Speaking for myself I know it’s difficult to let go of the control over my life. I would love to have a book that will point out every option and the consequences before making a move. I say that it would be nice but I know myself…the more choices I have the less likely I am to make a decision. I mean it took me two years to purchase a laptop. Not because I was looking for something spectacular but because there were too many choices and I didn’t want to make the wrong choice. I honestly thank God that while He doesn’t give us a blueprint of our lives He does give us a manual as a guide to help us as we walk through life.

The bible has been given to us to teach, correct, edify, and encourage but those things can only happen if we are open and receptive to the urging of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit brings God’s word to life. He provides peace. He provides comfort. He provides understanding but most of all He provides direction by leading us back to God’s word.

So when you find yourself wondering where you are going and you are feeling directionless allow the Holy Spirit to illuminate your one true compass – The Bible.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God and the pease co God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthly-mediate on these things. The things which you have learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:6-9)

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driving and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:2-8)

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. (Hebrews 11:1-3)

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying; “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace”‘ So they shall put my name on the children of Israel and I will bless them. (Numbers 6:22-27)

There are two ways to stand up. We can stand up on the backs of others pushing them down or we can hold each others hands helping to brings others up with us.

Our ancestors didn’t just want something better for themselves they also wanted something better for everyone. There are too many people in this world that focus only on what they can get and what others can do for them instead of how awesome it can be to give and do for others. The bible says it’s better to give than to receive. Imagine how much better the world will be if we all adhered to that principle.

A rope is strong not because of a single strand but because of many strands stitched together. We are stronger together than we are apart. So let’s grab each others hands, pull each other up and stand strong.

What does love look like? Love isn’t just compassion. It’s so much more than that. Love is the bed given to you when you have no where else to go. Love is the tears and laughter shared with a friend. Love is the bag of groceries placed on your doorstep.

Love is caring for your mother right up to the end. Love is doing for others without expectation of anything in return. Love is courage. Love is strength. Love is vulnerability.

Love is forgiving. Love is honest. Love is giving. Love is action.

Love is sacrifice.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His son to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  John 3:16-17

I can’t remember if I was listening to a podcast or the radio but the person speaking relayed a story that was told by Gilda Radner about a dog from her childhood. The dog was pregnant and because of an injury lost her leg. The vet was able to stitch her up and when the puppies were born they all began to walk as she walked even though there was nothing wrong with them. Why? Because the puppies were following the example to them by their mother. After hearing that story I asked myself this question…am I following the example that Jesus gave me?

The bible says that the Lord specifically took the time to make us in His image. He formed us from the ground and breathed life, His life, into us. He spoke to create the sky, the stars, the water, the animals, the earth however when it came to us He didn’t just want to speak us into life He wanted to touch us to mold us because He desired to spend time with us. How amazing is that? How amazing that God wakes us up each day with the anticipation that we’ll connect with Him.

Everyday we are given a choice to spend time talking with Him and in His word. Not because we are obligated but because we miss Him and our hearts desire to be with Him. My pastor has said that we wouldn’t be in a relationship very long if we never stopped to spend time with them. Sometimes I wonder if that’s how God feels. He has the right to walk away from us especially since the only time we spend with Him is the obligated time on Sunday morning; but God is not like that.

He is waiting for us to open our hearts and allow the desire to be with Him overwhelm us. Spending time with Him day by day is the only way we can take on more & more of His characteristics. We are going to be image bearers; that’s why we were created. The question is are we bearing the image of the one who created us or the one who is trying to destroy us?

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living being. (Genesis 2:7 NKJV)

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that you may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10 NKJV)

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Then they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. And she said, “look your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.”

But Ruth said: “Entreat me not to leave you or to turn back from following after you; For where you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people And your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried.

The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.”

Ruth 1:15-17