The Key to Restoration

Restoration has taken place in almost every area of my life in the past year. Everything is so different than it was just one year ago. I believe I would have missed out had I not turned to God and submitted my will to Him.

Prior to that it was almost like I was going through the motions. I said I loved God, I knew His Word, I knew how to pray, but I did not trust Him as I should have. I continued doing things my way expecting to get the result I wanted. Can you relate?

The prophet Isaiah talks about how God’s people looked like they had it all together but their prayers were not getting any further than the ground! He said everything they did was to benefit themselves. They were cruel and hardhearted, yet went around talking about how humble they were. God said He was looking for true humility where they cared for others, took care of the homeless and clothed the needy.

God said if they did this, their lives would turn around and He would answer their prayers. Verses 9-12 of Isaiah 58 in the Message Bible sum it up well:

“If you get rid of unfair practices,
quit blaming victims,
quit gossiping about other people’s sins,
If you are generous with the hungry
and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out,
Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness,
your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.
I will always show you where to go.
I’ll give you a full life in the emptiest of places—
firm muscles, strong bones.
You’ll be like a well-watered garden,
a gurgling spring that never runs dry.
You’ll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew,
rebuild the foundations from out of your past.
You’ll be known as those who can fix anything,
restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate,
make the community livable again.

Lord, my prayer is that we Your people would increase in humility and service so that You will be able to restore our foundations, heal our land and build us into the nation we were created to be. The stronger we are, the more effective we can be for You! Lord, thank You for making the path to restoration plain and accessible. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!
Isaiah 58:8 (New International Version)

Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness  will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.