Daily Diary - January 22 2016

Process of Spiritual Growth

Restoration

Yesterday we talked about redemption leading us to the “Restoration” of God.  Once we have established humility and identity in Christ, He will also restore us to our natural form that God created us.  It is a place of honor and respect by His word. It is not a place we deserve but a place in Him through His Grace!

Webster’s Dictionary

restoration |ˌrestəˈrā sh ən|

noun

1 the action of returning something to a former owner, place, or condition.

Based on the definition of restoration we have an “original owner” and “condition” that we need to be restored to.  This is what Jesus did at the cross!  He restored us to the father as a new creature that is able to walk out our complete restoration to our original form by following His word.

God’s plan is complete and perfect, so this “restoration” is based on “our” choices. God is not a man and does not change, so therefore we are the ones who ultimately control our restoration by simply “accepting” that He has already restored us and we need to follow His plan. The new and original identity we have in Jesus will become our focal point, and it will begin to grow and change the perspective of our identity to the world around us, thus establishing a new position of restoration.  No matter what the worlds perspective is of our past failures, God has restored us!

Isaiah 38:16 O Lord, by these things men live; And in all these things is the life of my spirit; So You will restore me and make me live.

This restoration needs to take place emotionally, mentally, physically, spiritually, relationally, and even financially. God is good, and His identity will restore us to amazing levels, built on His plan and not our own. We need to remember He is God, and He has already finished the work of restoration for us.  We have to receive it and walk it out with our relationship in Him by faith.

Zechariah 9:11-12

 “As for you also,
Because of the blood of your covenant,
I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.
¹² Return to the stronghold,
You prisoners of hope.
Even today I declare
That I will restore double to you.

As our relationship with Jesus grows, we begin to see His restoration unfold in our lives. That restoration is more than complete. The identity that God had for us from the beginning is always greater than our worldly position and even our imagination. He will take us to new heights that will cause us to surrender more and more to His goodness.

When we seek God and His identity through redemption and restoration, He will begin to manifest Himself in all areas of our lives.  This manifestation is awesome and will be our topic for tomorrow.

Hebrews 13:18-21 Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably.¹⁹ But I especially urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

²⁰ Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,²¹ make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you^[a]what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.