Allowing God to press the Restore Button

 

Promise of God for year 2011 - “So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten.....” (Joel 3:25)

 

 

When we stand on the promises of God from His living Word, we can prevail over all the howling storms of doubt and fear. We need God’s promises for our personal & family lives, ministry & workplace, so that we can prevail over all the tough times and can stand strong and glorify God’s name. Promises help us to fulfil God’s purpose for our lives.

 

From this above verse from the Book of Joel, God promises that He will restore all that we have lost, which means return to its original or usable and functioning condition; return to life; get new life or energy. We need to think about all the areas of our life where we know that we need restoration – spiritual & physical health, family matters, ministerial areas and workplace related issues. It will be good if we could write them all down in a paper and pray to God claiming this promise for this year.

 

But this promise is a conditional promise. God lays certain conditions before He says that He will make this happen in our lives.

 

“Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God? Joel 2:12-14 (ESV)

 

Gather the people. Consecrate the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber. Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep and say, “Spare your people, O Lord, and make not your heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’” Joel 2:16-17 (ESV)

 

Ø  Seeking God wholeheartedly

Ø  Internalizing holiness and not external “spiritual” show offs

Ø  Giving importance to holiness in the Church and among team members

Ø  Emphasizing & practising spiritual disciplines for all – children & grownups alike, even brides & bridegrooms

Ø  Interceding for people in the church, ministry & workplace

 

As we internalize these conditions from God’s Word and live them day in and day out, may the Lord restore all that we have lost not only to its original state, but much more than that, so that all of it may reflect God’s glory!

 

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for this New Year! I pray that You restore all that I have lost in the past years in my life and of my family, friends, relatives and people in my church and workplace. Help me to know You & Your Word more in this year and give me the strength to live according to Your Word and for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen!