Soul Restoration

 “He refreshes my soul…” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭3a‬ ‭

The word restoration is an attractive word but comes with a process. If you’ve ever had any kind of home renovation, you know the first step is the removal of the old pieces and parts and any necessary repairs before the new materials can be installed. Similarly, there are inferior things in our souls that need to be removed because they aren’t aligned with God’s Kingdom. 

Living on earth unfortunately means an assault on the soul. We experience loss, wounds, betrayal and effects of sin. When I first started walking with God, I had old mindsets that needed correcting, brokenness needing healing, and sin and shame that had to be eradicated. Thankfully, God tells each of us, “Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I rebuke and discipline [showing them their faults and instructing them]; so be enthusiastic and repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, your sinful behavior—seek God’s will]” (Rev.‬ ‭3‬:‭19‬ ‭AMP‬).‬  God shows us what needs to be stripped away - what isn’t meant to be there. Though we can feel raw in the process, God gives us courage and grace to keep following Him on this path to restoration.  We can hold onto the promise that, “After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace [who imparts His blessing and favor], who called you to His own eternal glory in Christ, will Himself complete, confirm, strengthen, and establish you [making you what you ought to be]” (1 Pet.‬ ‭5‬:‭10‬ ‭AMP).‬‬ 

God reveals His perfect plans and His perfect love for His children over and over in His Word. The woman caught in adultery was brought before Jesus with condemnation and a death sentence, yet Jesus freed her from condemnation and offered an invitation to leave her life of sin (John 8:10-11).  Encountering His love - a love that is so compelling, so real, and so safe - has a way of bringing humility to our wayward hearts so that God can begin the repairs of our soul. God sent Jesus and launched His plan to restore our identity as sons and daughters, connected to His heart and ways. 

It’s almost as if our soul sometimes has to catch up with the Good News. The Gospel is the invitation into the restoration process that acknowledges that “you were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News…” (‭‭Col. ‭1‬:‭21‬-‭23‬ ‭NLT‬‬).  Jesus did all the work and made a way for us to walk in fellowship with the Trinity, but we have to accept the gift and apply it to our lives. He wants to hand us treasure but we have to let go of the junk we hold onto. 

God never designed us to live apart from Him, riddled with guilt and shame. The Good Shepherd shepherds us through the entire process of restoration. Our part is to allow God to love us and teach us His ways, believing and remembering the Good News of the Gospel and the victory Christ secured for us. It is finished and He is seated in heaven, awaiting the appointed time for full restoration of all things (Acts 3:21). That day is coming friends so let’s take God at His word. Follow Him through the restoration process and take heart - He’s with us all the way.

Thirsty for Living Water

 ”That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes.“ (‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭17‬:‭6‬a)

I grew up watching my mother plant a garden every year for our family. Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and beans, bordered by colorful snapdragons and zinnias produced a bountiful harvest. Gardens don’t flourish without tending. For starters, new plantings need to be watered until they have a well-established root system.  

I’m not the best at growing a big garden, but I do love having pots brimming with flowers, herbs and greenery on my porches. My pots have little holes to drain excess water to prevent root rot, so the soil dries out quite quickly in the warmer months. This means the plants quickly wither without consistent watering. 

Spiritually speaking, we need the living water Christ offers in order to flourish. When we try to live in our little self-made pots apart from Him, we dry out pretty quickly. We can become like the bush in the wasteland in Jeremiah 17:6. Have you ever been in a spiritual drought where you felt dry and barren? I think most of us probably have at one time or another. Sometimes we stay too long in the wasteland because we are afraid to admit we are dry and ask for help. 

We hear Christ say in John 7:37b-39a, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.” This is profound. Not only can we receive this living water through our faith in Jesus, but we can become channels He flows through to reach others. This means that when we see others withering in the wasteland, we can move toward them and offer them the Living Water from Christ. 

Even believers need to be refreshed with Living Water and hope after periods of grief, suffering or loss…to be carried into God’s healing, refreshing presence. We all need hope. The world needs hope. Christ is the source of hope, and He gave believers the Holy Spirit, who’s described as a Counselor, Comforter, Helper, Teacher and Guide. He reminds us of the truth that will keep us rooted in both the truth of Christ and in the power of the Gospel. With the combination of truth and power, we can then bear witness to others that are waiting to hear this marvelously Good News.

We will never have what we need apart from Christ. There’s one thing we all have in common (that also keeps us humble) - we all need The Lord. And the most beautiful thing I think I’ve ever learned is that this life-giving, almighty, gracious, loving God invites all of us because He wants to do life with us - forever. 

Let’s be people filled to the brim with Living Water. John 4:14 says, “those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” Drink deep…then turn and offer a drink to those standing near you who are parched from living too long in desert places. Then we shall all surely thrive!

It’s Personal

 I remember it like it was yesterday. I was sitting in a stadium full of people attending a women’s conference. I was in a season where I had lost my father way too soon, was home each day raising my babies, and felt a gnawing sense of insignificance growing in my soul. 

I sat expecting a lineup of dynamic speakers. What I didn’t expect was that the first worship set to kick off the conference would cause me to sink into my seat sobbing. The first song was the most unexpected song I’ve ever heard at a Christian conference.  It was a John Denver song - one of my favorite songs that my dad used to play on his guitar with me sitting at his feet as a child. 

In my little corner of the stadium I cried my eyes out while women around me passed me tissues from the bottom of their purses and asked wide-eyed if I was “ok.” How do you communicate to those around you in a moment like that how personally (and quickly I might add) God began ministering to my heart. In a moment, He addressed the grief I carried from the loss of my earthly dad, and addressed the lie of insignificance harbored in my soul by showing me He saw me and had in fact seen all my days. The healing that took place in my heart was nothing short of miraculous that day, and it gave me an abiding sense of purpose, value and communion with God. I'll never forget it.

In reading Paul’s letters to Timothy, I get the sense Timothy was needing this kind of ministry to stay at his post in Ephesus. Equally apparent is the evidence Paul really saw Timothy - his strengths and weaknesses, his gifts, his fears and troubles. Paul addressed Timothy as a son (1 Timothy 1:2) and expressed deep care, a desire to protect, train up, prepare and set him up for success. 

Paul spoke plainly of the hardships to come and the need to stand firmly on the Truth, regardless of the environment. He reminded Timothy of the sound teaching and spiritual inheritance he received from his mother and grandmother, and then reminded him of prophetic words spoken over him by others. All of this had helped develop Timothy into the man of God he was. Remembering gave him strength to stand strong.

We all go through difficult seasons that make us long for God’s personal affirmation and attention. Psalm 139:1 says, “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.” We all desire to know He sees us. It is sheer grace from the Father that assigns us our value and significance (Ephesians 2:8-10), and unfathomable mercy that He will comfort us (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). When He does, it is like adding legs to our faith, releasing us to run as ambassadors of the King. 

I hope you have had similar experiences that have propelled you forward in your walk with God. If you can’t recall a specific time He spoke to the deepest parts of your heart, ask Him to. He is a God who gets personal. He is a God who loves you and longs for you to know it. Think of people in your life that have spoken life into you in moments of weariness, like Paul did for Timothy. Thank God for them. Once you do, go forth and be that life-giving presence for someone else. May God receive all the glory!

Kerri

May 10, 2023

Equipped to Bear Fruit

“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I left the hospital asking, “Are you really letting us take this baby home from here?!” It sounds ridiculous and the nurse at my side just laughed, but it was a window into my soul at the time. The moment we strapped our baby boy in his new car seat, a fresh wave of fear swept over me. All of a sudden, I felt completely unprepared and unequipped to take my fragile infant out of that hospital, having no ‘real world’ experience on how to care for him. 

It doesn’t sound pretty, but that’s often the way it goes when I’m given a new assignment. Sure, it might be exciting, but it’s often accompanied by an element of trepidation. What if I mess up? What if I’m not equipped for the job?

In Exodus, God gave Moses detailed instructions on how to build the tabernacle, including what materials to use, dimensions, and who to enlist to perform the work. I wonder how Moses felt receiving all of those specific instructions, knowing that mishandling any part of it could result in disaster. But God knew it was a tall order and was completely prepared to meet the needs of Moses and the Israelites in order for them to be successful. God knew the process required divine inspiration. 

The equipping that takes place in this story is what stands out. God equipped Moses to lead the people; Bezalel and Oholiab to build and create; and others to give possessions as offerings. The whole community was able to contribute and play a role in this beautiful creation of the tabernacle. No one person was overwhelmed because the whole congregation was contributing. 

Just as God put His Spirit in the artisans to craft the tabernacle, so the Son gave us the Holy Spirit so we can bear fruit. By His Spirit, we have everything we need to carry out our assignments. He knew the Holy Spirit was the comfort, power, wisdom, courage and truth we needed to stand firm in our identity and calling as His daughters.

Whether it’s raising a family, missions, or leading a Bible study, we can trust that He is going to equip us. Each assignment can feel overwhelming because it’s usually bigger than we can accomplish on our own. I’m pretty sure He designed it that way so we’d remain humbly dependent on Him and collaborate with the community He’s placed us in. We were never meant to do it on our own. My assignment to nurture my children was achievable because God was with me, equipping me each step, and because He set me in community with other moms to find encouragement and help when needed. 

In my experience, even if I’m a little intimidated by the assignment, there are a few things I can always look to for a boost in my faith and confidence: the scriptures, testimonies of other believers, and my personal history with God. When you feel the weight of an assignment, seek out a trusted believer that can help redirect your focus to scriptural truth and remind you of all the ways God has moved before. Remember He always provides, His Spirit never fails, and He’s always with you. That, my friends, is good news! 

The Favor of a King

“For He says, “In the time of My favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬ 

Anytime I’ve been asked to speak to a group of people, it felt like a blessing and a curse to this introvert. It usually comes with a feeling of not being qualified and thinking another should be chosen. Part of our journey with God is learning that He often asks us to do things that are bigger than we can handle on our own. When His favor rests on us - to lead or even write a devotional - it feels weighty. It costs us something, but at the same time it feels like an honor. 

Life came at Queen Esther fast and furious. Orphaned at an early age, she experienced loss and the need for rescue. Thankfully, God moved the heart of her older cousin, Mordecai, to adopt and care for her. When the King of Persia went on the hunt for a new queen, Esther found herself swept into the process and chosen to wear the queen’s crown. Favor, like her crown, rested on her head. 

Once queen, the king’s evil servant devised a plan to destroy all Jews, and Esther found herself in a position to help save her people from execution. It came with risk…her life was on the line, too. Not only was she under the same death sentence as her people, she could also be killed for going to the king without being summoned. Esther found the courage to act, and it turns out the king granted her favor. 

There are some pretty cool similarities in Esther’s story that we find in our own stories. First, Esther herself was saved and shown favor - first through adoption and then by being chosen by the king. As believers, we are chosen (John 15:16) and adopted (Romans 8:15). Secondly, Esther was invited to partner with God in saving her people. We, too, are invited into a partnership with God to usher the lost into His salvation. 

Here’s some mind-blowing good news: we have the favor of a King just like Esther did. There is a beautiful partnership between the God who saves and the people He saves. We aren’t saved and shown favor so we can live a life of self-indulgence or idleness. We are saved and ushered into great purpose and into the work of our Master. He requires something of us - our trust and obedience. The work He has for us to do is the work of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18). We are ambassadors of Christ, working with Him to bring heaven to earth and the lost to the same salvation we ourselves have received by grace. 

His salvation is at hand. It’s now. His favor is also now. In Luke 4:18-21, Jesus reveals He was sent “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor”. I believe that favor is upon us as we work in the Family business with Him. By accepting the mantle, we are entrusted with the favor, resources and authority of the King. It’s a partnership - one in which we need to be in close proximity and relationship with our Partner. There is no greater quest, no greater Leader, or no greater favor than that of King Jesus. Just like Esther, we can step into our role as highly favored daughters of the King. 

Search Me

 I recently heard a song that made me think of Psalm 139 -“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” To be in that sacred place of humility seeking the sanctification only He can bring…it’s a vital part of our faith. Without it we are in danger of a hardening of our heart and a self-created distance from our Father.

The truth is, we fall down and get dirty sometimes. Maybe we even get drug through the mud by others. In some cases it’s willful and in others we’re completely unaware.

“Who can understand his errors or omissions? Acquit me of hidden (unconscious, unintended) faults. Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous (deliberate, willful) sins; Let them not rule and have control over me. Then I will be blameless (complete), And I shall be acquitted of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable and pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my [firm, immovable] rock and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:12-14). 

David’s inclination here and in psalm 139 was to fall before God and say ‘search me’ which landed David in a place of intimacy, worship and surrender. And I dare say soul rest.

Why is it so hard to invite God into our hearts? To admit our faults, weaknesses, distrust and layers of unholy and unhealthy things. Fear, doubt, loss…all of it threatens our sense of safety. Offense creeps in from one side. Lies sneak in from the other. Maybe it’s hard because of the many earthly examples we’ve had of poor love and leadership that has led us to build the walls around our hearts. Or maybe it’s just our humanity - us wanting to be in charge of our own destiny and unwilling to yield to the way of another. 

I think the Lord is reminding me that it’s so important to enter this space of humble dependency and muster a “search me” attitude. The good news? Every time it's going to lead us to peace and rest. To communion. His heart is totally for us. He waits for us to show up. When we do - it’s a divine moment of remembering the reason Jesus came and the amazing grace He brought with Him. It renews our faith and draws us into worship. It makes us run from our bent towards hard-heartedness and self-protection straight into His receptive arms of love. 

The Testimony of Broken Chains

Recently I did a prayer walk in my city. I felt the whole walk like He was opening my eyes to notice things. One of the things I noticed was a chain laying beside a trash bin. It led me to pray that the Lord would break the chains of bondage (the bondage of addiction/sin/captivity/depression/mental illness/poverty/etc.) in our city. I prayed for total freedom leading to awakening and gratitude. I heard these song lyrics as I prayed, “You’re waking up my soul and it’s my joy to thank You!” (Upper Room & Cody Lee). When God breaks us free and heals us, we feel such overwhelming gratitude that it leads to praising Him for that freedom. 

Anyway, I snapped a pic of the chain next to the trash can. It stirred me to think about how we need to make sure we allow the Lord access to all of us - our mind, heart and spirit - for full soul-healing and not just physical. While we can have a chain of addiction (or whatever bondage) severed we are still in need of deeper soul healing that drove us to addiction in the first place. So I began praying for that deeper ministry in lives that are breaking free from bondage. 

But I didn’t like seeing the chain lying there - I wanted no trace left behind. I wanted to pick up the chain and throw it in the trash! It seemed ugly to me.  But the chain  was purposely bolted to the concrete beside the trash bin. That image remained with me throughout the day. Then I heard a random song by Steven Curtis Chapman on the radio later that afternoon… Remember Your Chains. Some of the lyrics follow: 

There's no one more thankful to sit at the table

Than the one who best remembers hunger's pain

And no heart loves greater than the one that is able

To recall the time when all it knew was the shame

The wings of forgiveness can take us to heights never seen

But the wisest ones, they will never lose sight of where they were set free

Love set them free

So remember your chains

Remember the prison that once held you

Before the love of God broke through

Remember the place you were without grace

When you see where you are now

Remember your chains

And remember your chains are gone

So maybe that chain that I wanted to throw into the trash bin has some purpose after all. It’s like my eyes shifted from seeing a picture of bondage to seeing a picture of freedom. The chain’s broken but visible. It may look ugly, but maybe it’s a good reminder of how He leads us out of  bondage and into freedom.  Maybe it’s a good reminder to remain humbly committed and submitted to our Savior and Lord. There’s that tendency to forget or drift…though let it not be so with us.

He shed His blood - all of it - to break the chains and set His people free. The only trace left behind is evidence of freedom we now walk in. What’s left is a testimony of salvation, healing, redemption and restoration. There is no one more worthy of our worship, so start dancing upon those broken chains and let a freedom song burst forth. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain. To Him be glory and honor and praise! 

He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”          Luke 4:16-21 NIV