You know what’s scary? Scary is realizing that a little girl
at church looks up to you, that there is a little hand out there reaching out
to touch you and see what you’re doing. It’s even scarier when there are people
your own age looking at you. It’s a blessing sure, but it kind of makes the
pressure really real. After writing the blog (last summer mostly) I had a lot
of trials, a lot of short comings, but even more blessings because that is the
God I serve. I felt like I had this pressure of breaking, that everyone would
be looking at me and I would royally fail; but God has not called us to fail.
In Jeremiah 29:11 it says that he has a plan to prosper us and for a future. It
gets hard to remember that when we are constantly falling short of the glory
but it’s even more important to restore ourselves after such trembling of
faith. I wanted to write this blog on
Christianity and Feminism but God calls away from our own plans to follow His.
Restoration. I was worshiping today and out of my mouth I
kept saying “restore, restore, restore…” In my life there are a lot of things
that can use restoration—relationships, focus, art, and this blog. Maybe it is
time to restore ourselves, our families, our passions, and our ministries. What
things are in need of restoration in your life? What is God calling you to do
in the midst of the rumbling? What is drawing your attention away from the
voice of God if you cannot hear Him? I urge you to physically write down these
responses and write your prayers down. Remember this is not a journal but
rather a prayer book.
“ And when he had taken the scroll, the four
living creatures and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having
every one of them harps, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the
prayers of saints.”(Rev. 5: 8) It is said in the bible that God
keeps our prayers in bowls in the throne room as incense before him. He keeps
every prayer we have ever thought, muttered, yelled, or scribbled thoughtlessly
in our planners (maybe that’s just me though). I have been writing my prayers
down for a while and though it sometimes might require a little more time, I
have seen how God has answered even the smallest of prayers and has literally
made a way out of no way. It will demonstrate how God is faithful even when we
are not, those pieces of paper have held me accountable many of times. I bring up a prayer journal because where
does restoration start if not through prayer. If not through fasting. If not
through asking God to restore.
Maybe you are brimming with positivity and you are full of
zeal, but what about your family or friends? Are the people around you in the
season of reaping? Are they sowing? Have they forgotten what their favorite
scripture used to be? There comes a time when God calls us not only to restore
ourselves but our families and friends as well. There comes a time when you
must ask to bring forth restoration and stand in the gap for your loved ones.
My prayer is that you take up this challenge to declare a restoration and
follow God’s plans for you no matter how scary they might be this summer. I
pray that you will praise him in advance for the blessings, big or small, that
come will come your way.
Restoration is not a waterfall in paradise, it is rebuilding
after a wrecking ball has decimated a building. It is rewiring. It is not easy
but it is not scary. That is something I have to keep on reminding myself. Fear
is not from God. It is not easy but neither is the life we are called to live.
It gets hard to remember the voice of God in strobe lights and bass but God won’t
relent. To achieve restoration you must be willing to be reckless for God. We
are the reckless generation, haven’t you seen the media? It is so easy to be
reckless, but are you willing to be a little more reckless? Are you willing to
follow Him where ever he takes you? (Abraham & Ruth) Are you willing to
praise Him in times of trouble? (Job) Are you willing to not do what your
friends do? (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) Are you will to have unwavering faith?
(Daniel) Being reckless isn’t anything new. How reckless will you be for restoration?
There’s a fast I’m gonna do in a couple weeks. Join me if you’re ready to be
reckless.
It is easy to feel defeated. It is easy to sit in the dust
of failed attempts at reaching a dream or love. It is easy to settle for
something. But God is stirring you to reach for excellence, to not walk out on
the divine appointment he has set up for your life. He is a God that can bring
you beauty from ashes.He is the God that can bring you the spirit wind to a valley
of dry bones. He chose you.
“You did
not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so
that you might go and bear fruit—fruit
that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.”
John 15:16
