Restoration of Time

Do you ever have that moment that you just simply wish you could go back and change something?  You know what I am talking about.  Remember the time you got into a horrible argument with your spouse or best friend?  Or maybe the time you yelled at your kids for something they did, but in reality their actions were not the real reason you yelled.  Maybe it was something little like skipping that work-out one too many times and then realizing you are overweight.  
Regardless of what we've done the "fix" always takes much more time than the action that caused it in the first place.  I remember a time as a teacher when one of my students lied to me.  Now I understand that everyone has had someone lie to them at least once in their life.  But for me and this student the lie broke my heart.  I remember talking to him and letting him know how important he was to me and how much I cared about him.  I also had to let him know that he stole something from me.  He hadn't stolen anything tangible, but he had stolen my trust.  
In our conversation, I explained that when I have to trust him, I am not so sure I can.  And that it pained me so greatly that we were now in such a position.  He assured me it wouldn't happen again.  To my knowledge it never did.  But it took  a long time for us to come to a place where we regained full trust.  
Isn't it wonderful that we have been given a model grace and mercy through our own heavenly father?  I love this piece written by Pastor Joyce.  It is a wonderful reminder of his restoration. 


Restoration of Time January 21

It would be such a rush if every decision and destination was exactly the right choice and everything in our life lined up perfectly with the will of God. Unfortunately that is not a reality in anyone’s life that I know.  Fortunately, God is merciful and watches over us even when we are sidetracked.  He constantly nudges us by the Spirit to get us back on track, and then shows us how to get into His flow.

I love the promise in Joel chapter 2; after the children turn to God with their whole heart He says in verse 25-27, “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust, my great army which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you; and my people shall never be put to shame.  Then you shall know that I AM in the midst of you, and that I AM the Lord your God and there is no other.  My people shall never be put to shame.”

You may have been in a season of wandering through a dry spell, the enemy may have seen your vulnerability and taken advantage of you, even beaten you up with plagues and pestilence but when you turn again to God He will restore the days, months and even years that you were out there on your own.

This is a day of restoration where the latter days will be greater than the former days bringing victory and great joy to the house of God.  We will dance before the Lord with intense praise bringing His presence into our midst.  Turn to the Lord with your whole heart and watch God show up and show out!