40 Days in the Word - Power of the Word Sample

Theme | I Will Restore You

From | Heather Cartini

Verses | Psalm 23:3, Joel 2:25, 1 Peter 5:7-11

The heart of Father God is to restore us to His original blueprint at the time of creation. He accomplishes this both through the completed work of the cross and by our daily transformation into the likeness of Jesus.

However, 1 Peter 5:8 teaches us that we need to take seriously the fact that we have an enemy who is working against our transformation. He is an adversary who is intent on limiting our progress and stealing from us, using any means available. This is why Peter urges us to stand firm and be strong in our faith while remembering that Jesus is our source, as we keep our eyes on Him and His Word.

The prophet Joel adds another dimension by providing us with hope. In Joel 2:25 we are told that everything that we have lost in the past can be restored, and recompense is available through the reinstatement of what was stolen. God provides a new path for those with lost calls or dreams, whose previous education was limited, or those who’ve had negative experiences in their childhood that have then left a path of pain. Many of us have experienced deep failure of some kind. Joel tells us that we can draw a line in the sand and start asking God to replace our loss.

The theme of restoration is one of Scripture’s most outstanding promises and we see it clearly reflected in Psalm 23:3. Here Jesus promises to draw alongside us and renovate our inner self. He wants to heal our broken hearts and renew our hope, as He is a trustworthy refresher of our souls. When we sit with Him and allow His restoring care of our inner self, no transformation is beyond Him. In fact, not only does He restore and refresh us, He also sets us on a path to reestablish what was stolen in His most perfect way.

Prayer | Dear Jesus, thank You that You have made a way for me to experience restoration as I sit with You and unveil my inner being. Please help me in this process to cooperate with You, and provide me with healing and hope. Help me to stand firm in faith as I identify those things that have been stolen through past experiences. I ask that You will make a path for me to have them restored in Your most perfect way.