Repairer and Restorer

[S] Isaiah 58:12 --
12"Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins;
You will raise up the age-old foundations;
And you will be called the repairer of the breach,
The restorer of the streets in which to dwell.

[O] God gives second chances to me and I should also carry on that same spirit of rebuilding broken lives starting with my own.  I need to raise up the age-old foundations to repair and restore them in the image of God.

[A] I need to make the foundation of my life to carry out the spirit of God, one of which is the spirit of restoration in the midst of brokenness.  He has mended and restored my broken life (in many ways still broken but He's not done with me) and that's what I need to pass on to others around me.  God has been nudging my heart to begin such a ministry to those near my life.  I need to seek His guidance for clarity and for like-minded co-workers to carry that out.

[P] Dear Father, please show me the way clearly by sending those who has been dreaming the same dream.  Please allow me to repair and restore what has been breached in people's lives.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

But Nothing Is Missing In God

[S] 1 Samuel 30:19 --
19 But nothing of theirs was missing, whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that they had taken for themselves; David brought it all back.

[O] When David and his men returned to Ziklag, they found out that the Amalekites raided the camp and took away everyone with them before totally destroy the camp.  It is recorded in verse 4 -- Then David and the people who were with him lifted their voices and wept until there was no strength in them to weep.  I don't believe I cried until there was no more strength to weep anymore but that's how crushed these valiant warriors were.  David collects himself and then after inquiring God, receiving His approval, they go after the Amalekites and reclaims everything they had lost.  Nothing was missing; David brought it all back.

[A] God used this same passage to speak to both me and my wife this morning.  It was about restoring something completely that was lost; without missing anything God is promising to bring it all back.  We found ourselves in another moment of set back in the late afternoon with the family crisis we're facing now but we're going to hang on to this passage as God's way of preparing our hearts this morning.

[P] Dear God, in You, there is complete restoration whether it's the lost spiritual unity with You or losing some grounds physically as we face some challenges in our lives.  You have prepared us to throw our trust completely on You and that's what we're going to do because You will come through I'm sure of it.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Simple is Wisdom

[S] Psalm 19:7--
    ⁷The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul;
         The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

[O] God's law is not only perfect and flawless but it also carries the power of restoring souls and it also makes the wise to be simple.  Why is that what I do always gets so  complicated no matter how much wisdom I want to apply?  In contrast, God's wisdom is simple and uncluttering because it centers around letting God work through my life rather than trying to make something out of it on my own.  Acts 11:21 -- And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord -- describes how Peter simplified those, who are circumcised, who made things all too complicated about following Christ.

[A] I need to catch myself whenever I make living out a Christ-following life too complicated and seek His wisdom which makes my mind simple.  I'm realizing that when I am defending what I'm doing, then it's already gotten too complicated.

[P] Dear Father, may Your law infiltrate my mind so it will stay simple and fresh to live for You and to surrender my life so Your hand will work through me.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Bartimaeus' Request To See Again

[S] Luke 18:41 --
 ⁴¹"What do you want Me to do for you?" And he said, "Lord, I want to regain my sight!"

[O] This blind man named Bartimaeus had lost his sight because in today's passage he wanted to regain his sight.  He knew what it was like when he could see and desperately desires to regain his vision.  I am quite certain that his desperation came only after he recognized and accepted his blindness.  Spiritually speaking Jesus is asking the same question to our generation, "What do you want Me to do for you?"  To this question, unless we cognize and accept the fact that we had lost our vision and became blind, we won't desperately request Jesus to restore our spiritual vision and sensitivity but stay complacent and proud by deceiving ourselves as if we are not blinded.  So, this response from Bartimaeus is a very powerful one that our generation need to follow after with a sincere desire to regain our lost vision.

[A] Every day that I skip my devotion is like losing my orientation or vision and I must ask, "Lord, I want to regain my sight!"

[P] Dear God, I will acknowledge my blindness when I miss my appointment with You and ask you to restore my spiritual sight.  I don't want to get used to the blindness but be like Bartimaeus who will desperately ask for Your power of restoration to enter my life.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.