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Tag Archives: restoration

Running Away – Part 2

26 Jul

Genesis 16:9-10
Then the angel of the LORD told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.”  The angel added, “I will so increase your descendants that they will be too numerous to count.”

I don’t know about you, but I hate getting instructions like that.  Unfortunately, this is sometimes the case in life.  The only way forward is to go back.

I have learned this the hard way on many occasions.  I love to go on road trips with my wife.  Most of the time it’s great fun.  However, there have been times when I have missed an exit or a road I needed to go down.

That’s when the “man pride” starts to kick in.  Do I keep going forward as if nothing’s wrong?  Do I humble myself, admit the problem, and turn around?  Sometimes it can be a hard decision.

Backtracking is never easy to do.  It requires you to acknowledge that you’re not perfect.  But, the fact is that not turning around can compound the problem.  If I hadn’t gone back to the right exit, who knows where I would have ended up.

In life, don’t be too proud to backtrack.  Sometimes you need to find the place where you last knew you were in God’s plan.  If you find yourself a little “lost” in life, take the time to go before the Lord and seek His wisdom to get you back on track.  Don’t be too afraid or proud to work on the areas He speaks to you about.  Do what is needed to bring restoration.

 
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Posted by on July 26, 2012 in Daily Thoughts

 

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Flee to the Mountains!

16 Jun

Mark 13:14
“When you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation’ standing where it does not belong – let the reader understand – then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.”

Jesus was giving His disciples a prophetic word concerning what they would be facing in the years ahead.  He was explaining to them about the fall of Jerusalem and the desecration of the temple.  He told them that when they see these things occur it was time to head for the hills, as the city would not be safe any longer.

“Fee to the mountains” is still good advice today.  When sin and the “abominations” of life start to weaken you, you must find a refuge for rest and relief.  You have to find a place to be alone with God.  Your faith and strength need to be restored in His presence.

Throughout Scripture we are exhorted to enter the mountains of God.  We need to seek a mountaintop experience with the Lord.  This is quality time, not just rattling off a list of needs and wants.  It is spending a while just listening to Him.  That is probably the hardest thing for any Christian to accomplish – spending time in silence.  In some cases it may be just as hard as scaling a tall mountain.

It is in the quiet places that your spirit can be renewed and refreshed.  You can put the noise of society behind you and hear the voice of Christ calling you to a higher walk.  Spend that quality time before Him today.  In His presence is all you need for life and godliness.  If you will flee to His side, you will have all the strength you need to continue on and face your battles victoriously.

 
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Posted by on June 16, 2012 in Daily Thoughts

 

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What Are You Preparing For?

18 Apr

Luke 24:1-2
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.  They found the stone rolled away from the tomb.

I just noticed this gem in the Scripture for the first time.  I was reading my Bible this morning and the words seemed to jump out at me.  The women who had followed Jesus’ ministry were very faithful to Him.  They worked to support the ministry while He was alive.

When Jesus went to the cross, they were devastated.  But, they continued to serve Him the best that they could.  This verse says that they prepared spices for His body.  Because Jesus’ crucifixion took place so close to the Passover, they were not able to go through the normal embalming process when He was placed in the tomb.  It was only after the feast was over that they could proceed with it.

This was quite a bit of work on the part of these women.  It involved grinding the spices to a fine powder.  Then they had to crush a resin in a mortar and pestle.  Only after this was done and the spices mixed, could they go to the tomb.

The problem was – all that work was for nothing.  Jesus Christ had risen from the dead!  Embalming spices were not necessary.  The Holy Spirit started to speak to me about our walk with God.

How often do we give up on something – a plan, dream, or ministry – because it doesn’t seem to be working.  We just want to put it out of its misery.  So we go through all the work of preparing for its demise.  Then, to our surprise, God supernaturally brings life to it again.

We need to remember that we serve a God who can raise the dead.  Never give up on a God-given dream.  It may go through a “death cycle.”  But, God is not bound to how things appear on the surface.  Don’t waste your time preparing for defeat, when the Lord’s plan is for your victory.  Let Him have the final say in your situation.

 
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Posted by on April 18, 2012 in Daily Thoughts

 

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