How To Restore Your Spiritual Life

Jesus restores us in the midst of our brokenness, failures, sin, mistakes, and hurts in this world. To restore literally means to bring back, return, and retrieve, as well as to reorganize and reassemble.

God's kindness and grace were the driving forces behind Jesus' decision to go to the cross, shed His blood, and rise again.

Your restoration is only possible because of the crucifixion and the resurrection.

God's provision and willingness to restore anything you need, whether it's a relationship, your finances, your body, or your friendship with God, is achievable.

When God heals you, He does not return you to the state you were in before you were shattered.

God is far better than that; his restoration makes you a better person than you were before.

According to Zechariah 9:12, “Even now, I announce that I will give you twofold.”

God takes the sorrow, hurt, and brokenness that you or others may have caused and puts your life back in order, corrects what is wrong, and brings you to a place of incredible healing and wholeness.

When Jesus heals your life, you will always be better than you were before.

You may bear scars from your experiences, but they are merely a testament to God's love and strength.

Jesus was crucified and buried, yet He was entirely restored when He rose again.

Jesus' scars indicated that He had been hurt and broken for the sake of the world, but His resurrection repaired His body, allowing Him to ascend to heaven.

After the resurrection, Jesus was better in human form because He now had a tale to tell about God's power and love, and He paved the way for forgiveness and restoration for those who believe in Him.

As you may recall, Peter denied Jesus three times because he kept a safe distance from him.

Peter wept terribly because he felt he lacked the courage to be courageous for Jesus, and he had betrayed His loving Savior.

In that point, he recognized he was not strong enough to live totally for God, and he lamented his failure to closely follow Jesus during the struggle.

Jesus had already risen from the grave when we read today's text, and He met face to face with Peter.

After breakfasting with him and the disciples, Jesus returned to the source of Peter's denial.

Jesus asked Peter three questions and exhorted him three times for every time he denied Jesus.

Jesus restored Peter's faith and empowered him to be the leader that Jesus had called him to be.

Jesus did not condemn Peter, but rather restored him to his rightful station, and Peter totally recovered.

In this emotional moment, when Jesus restored Peter, he said once more, “Come with me” (John 21:19).

Jesus was concerned about Peter's well-being. There was nothing Peter could do to prevent Jesus from loving, forgiving, healing, and restoring him. What's the end result? Peter was in better shape than he'd ever been. He totally followed Jesus by travelling to Jerusalem and waiting for the Holy Spirit's promise. On the Day of Pentecost, he was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke his first sermon. Because of Peter's fearlessness in standing out and witnessing for Jesus, three thousand people were born again. Peter never looked back; he was an apostle who performed numerous miracles in Jesus' name for the glory of God.

How do you pray for restoration?

bind up my broken heart, announce liberation over my life, and release me from my darkness, Heavenly Father, you who creates all things fresh and brings beauty from our ashes. Because you are the One who promises to console the bereaved and bestow a crown of beauty, oil of joy, and a garment of praise upon me. You're going to turn my sadness into joy. I'll put my faith in you and believe in the promises of hope you've made. My pain will serve as a testament to your majesty and loyalty. Amen.

How do you solve spiritual problems?

When Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, he discovered a slew of issues. While most people remember Nehemiah for his leadership in repairing the walls of Jerusalem, he also demonstrated spiritual leadership. Nehemiah recalls the myriad spiritual challenges the people still faced—and how he handled them—in the last chapter of his record, drawing on the good will and esteem he had earned previously. While we may not face the same problems today, today's problem solvers require the same talents as Nehemiah.

• Problem solvers build their solutions on the foundation of God's Word (Neh. 13:1-3). People who are solution-oriented foster a culture that values the truth of God's Word, establishing the standard by which all problems will be appraised and all solutions will be derived. Instead of resorting to either the expectations of the congregation or their own past practice, problem solvers make God's Word the consistent judge by which they assess all things, rather than bringing it up when it's convenient or using it to justify a personal perspective.
• Sinful situations are not tolerated by problem solvers; they are addressed and changed (Neh. 13:4-9). The first step is to preach about a sin or a doctrinal issue. Solutions-oriented thinking exposes people who are to blame and offers spiritual alternatives to harmful practices. It'll probably take some time and a lot of knowledge, but focusing on the long-term godly solution makes the effort and patience worthwhile. A leader, on the other hand, who fails to rectify erroneous behaviors out of fear of receiving complaints or losing numbers isn't really leading at all.
• Problem solvers pick up on minor details that point to greater concerns (Neh. 13:10). Problem solutions does not always entail identifying flaws. Recognizing when something or someone is absent is a big part of it. People that are solution-oriented look for ways to include people who have previously been disregarded. They pick up on leadership inconsistencies immediately, which create a distrustful environment. They are aware of the ramifications of minor details, allowing them to work in principle to correct critical errors.
• When the leadership is in the wrong, problem solvers stand up to them (Neh. 13:11). In many congregations of the Lord's church today, we have come to accept an incorrect concept of authority. While people accept the Bible as the ultimate authority in theory, they frequently defer to the leadership in practice—even when those leaders are behaving in direct opposition to the Bible. Instead of sitting on their hands as if they can do nothing, solution-oriented people take a stand against leadership when the leaders themselves are sinning.
• Problem solvers look for people who are willing to rise to the occasion to meet the issues that God's people confront (Neh. 13:12-13). People who value solutions over the status quo are always on the hunt for others who share their values. True solutions, on the other hand, necessitate consistency rather than change. As a result, issue solvers must not only discover people who are open to change, but also those who are devoted to doing what is better and right.
• Problem solvers work for the glory of God, for the good of God's people, and for the future of God's people (Neh. 13:14). The American corporate culture has had an adverse impact on how many Christians see church work and those who work especially with the church. A preacher who sees himself as the congregation's stooge will be unable to assist them in resolving their issues. Only by looking at his work from a divine viewpoint and with eternity in mind will a man be able to rise above the employee mindset and accomplish what is best for people, even if those impacted are unaware of it right away.
• People who commit sin are chastised by problem solvers (Neh. 13:15-18). If you refuse to acknowledge a problem, you will not be able to solve it. You must first eliminate the problem before you can find a solution. Unfortunately, the most common response to difficulties these days is to try to wait them out, talk them out, or ignore them entirely. People that are solution-oriented see that these aren't exactly solutions, but rather attempts to shift the problem down the road. We cannot be spiritual leaders unless we are strong enough to correct others who are in sin.
• Problem solvers come up with ways to keep the same problems from recurring (Neh. 13:19-22). Some people act as if yelling and whining about an issue, pointing fingers at people, and bullying them until they give in is the same as problem solving. It isn't the case. People who are solution-oriented not only address the issue, but they also have the vision to devise a feasible solution that incorporates people in a positive way and includes safeguards to avoid the problem from recurring.
• Because they realize that personal and congregational concerns are intertwined, problem solvers handle both (Neh. 13:23-28). A congregation's spiritual health is only as good as its members' daily lives. Leaders who assess the health of a congregation only on the basis of Sunday attendance and sermons are not shepherding sheep; they are monitoring the congregation. Because the problems that most affect people are personal, solution-oriented persons must be prepared to offer personal solutions to people both inside and beyond the congregation.
• Problem solvers do not make concessions. They purify, correct, and implore (Neh. 13:29-31). You can't fix a problem unless you're ready to handle every aspect of it, eliminate the factors that contribute to the problem, and put forth all of the necessary steps to find a solution. Unfortunately, many people are satisfied with doing merely a portion of each. This is not a viable option. It's a half-hearted attempt to persuade others (and possibly ourselves) that we're doing anything, in the hopes of being judged on our effort rather than our output.

We live in a world that is full of issues. We know from personal experience that we all confront a variety of issues. As a result, we must accept that congregations will face difficulties. Accepting the reality of problems, on the other hand, is only the first step. We must prepare ourselves to address the problem, remedy the problem, and then move on from it, or we will not be able to truly solve the situation. This is something that solution-oriented individuals are aware of, which is why more preachers and elders need to become solution-oriented.

What does it mean to be spiritually cold?

We've grown accustomed to live in a world where only what can be seen and touched is real. Making it simple to trust what our eyes can see and our hands can feel. Mindfulness and compassion practice can assist us in choosing to view the outside world from a perspective that is beneficial to our spiritual well-being.

Our soul, like our bodies, gets tired and run down and requires rest from time to time. When we stray from a consistent diet of love and gratitude, our spirit, like our bodies, begins to lack the appropriate nutrients that allow energy to flow. Our ability to choose love in difficult situations necessitates a healthy relationship to our soul, just as walking up a flight of stairs necessitates a certain level of fitness.

As someone who has suffered from depression for many years, I've learned that compassion can be the difference between feeling broken and having a spiritual cold. The spiritual symptoms of a fever may manifest as anxiety over paying your bills, rather than the physical symptoms of a fever keeping you awake all night. The physical aches and pains that make a cold so unpleasant are now manifested as feelings of being unloved and inadequate. Nagging, self-deprecating thoughts accompany headaches. It's time to take a break if serving others no longer brings you joy and you're starting to feel like you're doing thankless work. That's the tickling in your throat telling you to be kind with yourself and get some rest, because a negative attitude is just as contagious as a cold.

When our souls are in good shape, we are glad for our friends, social media is enjoyable, we can let go of what no longer serves us, and we can envision our future through a beautiful, optimistic lens. If we ignore our bodies' symptoms of exhaustion and don't relax, our bodies will eventually take control and shut everything down, whether we have the time for a break or not. It is not in our nature to be harsh or callous, just as it is not in our nature to be sick and frail.

As I mentioned in my previous article, just because something doesn't have a name doesn't make it any less real. Love, gratitude, and compassion must be considered as soul medicine. Because you can't package it or buy it over the counter anymore, pharmaceutical corporations aren't interested in disclosing this information to you. Love, on the other hand, can heal; gratitude may relieve worry; and compassion is nature's valium. If you take it every day, morning and night, I assure you'll see a return of your natural delight.

I'm writing this in the hopes that anyone going through a difficult period might change their mindset from fear to love.

As always, please let me know what you think in the comments section.

How does God refresh my soul?

Every cry of the heart has a response from God. The Father will “send us another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor – Counsellor, Strengthener, Standby),” as Jesus says in John 14:16 (AMP).

We're already dehydrated by the time we're thirsty. This holds true for our spiritual lives as well. But finding refreshment in Him is not difficult; all we have to do is position ourselves to receive it.

Our refreshment is directly proportional to the level of our repentance.

“So repent and turn to God, and your sins will be forgiven, and the Lord will send you times of refreshing.” 3:19 (NASB)

The narrative of Gideon is told in Judges 6:1–24. The Israelites were bad in the eyes of the Lord, according to verse 1, thus the Lord delivered them to the Midianites for seven years.

In verse 6, they say: “cried out to the Lord for assistance.”

God responded by sending them Gideon, a rescuer.

The Holy Spirit refreshes us like a refreshing shower, washing away the dirt that has accumulated on us as a result of living life without God. It could be anything from tension and stress to sadness and grief as a result of difficult circumstances.

To wipe things away, we must acknowledge God and repent before Him, just as the Israelites did.

Repentance entails making a 180-degree reversal and beginning to live life God's way rather than our own.

Our refreshment is greater than our reality.

When the angel of the Lord appears to Gideon in verses 11-14, his initial instinct is to protest and inform him that God has abandoned the Israelites. Gideon, on the other hand, presses the Lord's angel to persuade him that he is the Lord. In verses 14-24, we see how the Lord reveals His strength, instilling faith in Gideon that he and his people have a future. Gideon was able to substitute his image of abandonment for the Lord's promise of future blessing.

(ESV) Isaiah 44:3 God offers nutrition and refreshment by pouring forth His Spirit on us. Our hungry and thirsty hearts can be filled by the Holy Spirit. It's as though water is being poured over a thirsty land when our souls are revived. “The Lord is my shepherd,” says Psalm 23. He takes me to verdant pastures, walks me beside still waters, and refreshes my spirit.”

Our refreshment is to go out to bless others.

Peace and hope are brought by the Holy Spirit. We must, however, spread that serenity and blessing to others.

A “generous person will thrive,” according to Proverbs 11:25, and “whoever refreshes others will be rejuvenated.” It's another example of the Biblical sowing and reaping idea. We receive a blessing of refreshment when we replenish others.

• Discuss a time when the Holy Spirit blessed you by filling you up after answering to a cry from your heart.
• Use this opportunity to pray with anyone in the group who is spiritually parched and in need of the Holy Spirit's refreshment.

What does God say about restoration?

“I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declares the Lord,” (Jeremiah 30:17, New International Version), is a recurring subject in the Bible, bringing hope when all else seems to contradict it.