The prefix “re” added to any word means “again” or “again and again”. God has an “again and again” desire and purpose to renew, restore and revive each one of us!
Renew!
As I look in the mirror grey hair, wrinkles and sags declare the reality of more years behind me than ahead.
As you stretch out the measuring line over your life, where are you? Are you beginning? Are you half-way through? Time on earth is finite. Honestly, no matter where we think we are, our time is uncertain!
Daily pressures and responsibilities have a subtle but pervasive way of distracting and pulling us away from the eternal qualities that really matter — faith, hope and love!
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.
But the greatest of these is love.”
I Corinthians 13:13
Lord, I ask for a renewing of our minds, tenderizing of our hearts and focusing of intentions on what will remain eternally. Unite us with Your highest values, Jesus.
Restore within us a life
grounded in faith,
anchored in hope and
growing in love.
Do it again Lord! May our lives be marked with eternity – imprinted with your value system.
Restore!
Before God created heaven and earth, before anything existed that now is, God knew you and saw you complete — perfectly you. You were beautiful, purposeful, fantastic, and amazing in every dimension. You were a one-of-a-kind rarity! A special design!
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.
Then you will call on me and come and pray to me,
and I will listen to you.
You will seek me and find me
when you seek me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:11-13
Often life is cruel, relentlessly eroding us of value and distinction.
Every day I encounter people at various levels of brokenness and disengagement, without identity, or personal worth. Look around and you will see them too!
Ask God what His thoughts are toward you. Ask Him what your next step is to begin to walk into the dream and destiny that is planted like a seed in your heart and soul.
Don’t read another word! Ask! You will be surprised by His lavish response! He is listening and ready to water that seed within you with truth!
Lord, restore this beautiful one to his/her divine purpose. Speak again the dream and design You have written for him/her. Erase the abuse, effects of monotony, weight of weariness, wall of discouragement, and marks of debasement from this life. Reconnect them to your heart and purpose. Realign them to a position and place of joy and fulfillment. Restore each one to the strength and perfection of their calling and design.
Revive!
Revive means:
- restore to life or consciousness
- to regain life, consciousness, and strength
- give new energy or strength to
What areas of your life might need “reviving”? Ask God if there are places where your conscience has become calloused. Are there areas where you once moved in strength and confidence, but lack vitality today? Are you tired of being tired in a dimension of your life?
There are several that God has been pinpointing in me and my relationships. Some spiritual gifts have been kept strong through constant exercise and risk. Unfortunately, I’ve relaxed in other ways and my spiritual muscles are atrophying.
Atrophy means “gradually decline in effectiveness or vigor due to under use or neglect.” It isn’t pretty, but it is a fitting description of spots in my life for God’s gentle, yet powerful, ignition of life to revive to full potential.
Broken crayons may need a little sharpening, cutting away of the outer layers, to expose the vibrant core. Nevertheless, once the excess is gone, the true colour appears ready to imprint and create beautiful on everything it touches!
Is that you? You may feel broken beyond usefulness. As you look at your life, you may see only the shavings and feel the pain of being whittled! Don’t despair…
God’s purposes are true!
His promises are faithful!
He wastes nothing in your life or mine!
Get ready! Revival is coming!
Expect and anticipate revival in your heart, your community, your church, and the nations! God is doing again what He has done before! He is breathing life, hope and purpose back into His people. He is drawing those that don’t yet know Him into this beautiful relationship with Him.
Do it Again!
Build in us, Lord, a childlike expectation for you to do it again!
“After two days he will revive us;
on the third day he will restore us,
that we may live in his presence.”
Hosea 6:2
“Will you not revive us again,
that your people may rejoice in you?”
Psalms 85:6
The answer is “Yes!” Yes, He will! Yes, He is!
A great tidal wave to renew, restore, and revive is approaching. In fact, it is already transforming the global landscape in proportions we cannot yet fully define. God is beginning right here with you and with me!
Lord, we agree with your heart!
We align ourselves to your timing and purpose!
Renew us!
Restore us! Revive us!
Further Reading: Is there a Wrong Way to do The Right Thing? Attitude Makes All The Difference