Restoration

Given June 20, 2006
Driving to work this morning, I was impressed to turn off the XM radio and pray. I found out God wanted to remind me of something and He wants you to know it as well. If you've ever been down or are down now, this will encourage you as it did me.

As we walk with God along the road of life, sometimes we stumble. We don't fall down but God is right there and catches us and helps us get right again. Other times we get ahead of Him, fall behind, or just get off the path and we trip up and do fall down. But, as a child would do, we holler, "Daddy!", and He comes, helps us up, dusts us off and leads us back in the way.

But there may be a time when we really get off the road, responding to a temptation of the flesh, by choice or deception, leave God, and go off on our own. I can see The Father shaking His head and saying, "He's going to get hurt." And, sure enough, God knows, the enemy who tempted us down that road just knocks us down, beats us up, then stands there gloating in our pain!

But....as we lay there in our pain and suffering, if we cry out, "Daddy, help!", He will respond and come to our rescue. He'll kneel down, wipe off the pain and dirt, "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3", then turn to our enemies and sternly says, "Get outta here!" And they get scared and flee. Then, lovingly, He picks us up and carries us back to the road and continues carrying us until we're able to stand again. He will restore us! "I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him, Isaiah 57:18"

This vision had me sobbing as I drove because I remember the time when I was laying there in a heap and I cried out to God and He came and restored me! If you've been beaten down by the enemy or even if you've never walked with God, all you have to do is cry out to Him and He WILL come. You can be restored. The Father is waiting to hear your cry.