Day 2: Restoration
To restore means “to put or bring back into existence or use; to give back, return.” Restoration is “an act of restoring or the condition of being restored…” There has been much that has been lost or convoluted over time within the United States, the former “glory days” now seem past - yet there is a hopeful future!
God speaks of a beautiful promise of restoration in Jeremiah 30:17 “I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declares the Lord” This is a repeated theme throughout the Bible, offering hope when all else seems to contradict it. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is filled with rich images of healing and restoration.
Restoration though does not come without recognition that something is in need of change and brought back to life. For example with an old house, perhaps you want to bring it back to its former glory, however, it needs improvement, it needs to see what is going on and how do you go about making it better then when it was left not taking away the integrity of the house, but restoring it in a way that makes it last longer?
That’s the way that I see us in the United States right now, we are an old house with need for improvement, with need of a new foundation to truly be restored as the Lord would want! Just as Peter writes in 1 Peter 5:10 “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.”
Today we aren’t going to point out every flaw in the system or within society. No rather it begins with us! The beginning of restoration I believe begins in the hearts of people. As Acts 3:19-21 says, “Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.”
It starts with repentance, it starts with you and me. For change cannot be cultivated on the foundations of sand, no rather on the foundations of the Rock on which we stand. And my He desires to restore this nation on His foundation, His truth and it begins with repentant hearts.
Take time to personally reflect on the few verses above and ask the Father to give you eyes to see what of your house needs to be restored. Step into a time of repentance and lament with Him - He loves the hearts of honest prayers. Then ask Him how He wants to restore you and how to use this process of restoration and share it with others.
Father, we thank you that you are the One who desires to restore and bring healing to this land, the United States of America, and thank you that it starts with us. That here in this place of humility we come before you with conviction from your spirit and repent of the ways that we have sinned, we have been greedy, how we have missed the hearts of the people around us. Jesus, by your victory on the cross we thank you that we are washed clean and made white as snow. Transform the foundation of our lives, restore the houses of our hearts so that they are more in line with Yours - that we may stand on Your firm foundation of truth, of love, of grace. We lift up this nation to you and pray for the restoration of government, of education, of society. We ask for humility to fall upon this nation and that our eyes would be drawn back to You! Teach us how to love as You first loved us! Empower us with Your Holy Spirit to sow seeds of restoration within relationships around us. Yes, may a wave of your heart move throughout the cries of the people and may we hear the sound of Heaven today. We love you Jesus, amen!
Discussion Questions:
What does restoration mean to you? How have you seen it in your own life?
What do you believe needs to be restored in the United States?
How do we step into a time of restoration with others?
