Tag: restore

Daily Word

Daniel 4

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Read Daniel 4 – Another dream – It seems as if King Neb is sharing this in hindsight. In verses :2-3 he is praising God and thanking him for all the Lord performed in him… He said he told the dream to his wise men and they could not explain it; then he told Daniel… :4-8

King Neb called him Daniel, his Hebrew name and not Belteshazzar, his Babylonian name in verse :8. This seems to indicate he was no longer trying to convert Daniel to his Babylonian gods, Nebu and Marduk.

Anyway, he tells Daniel a crazy dream and Daniel’s interpretation is alarming. Daniel advises the king to stop sinning, break from his wicked past and be merciful to the poor… but that does not happen, and the dream is fulfilled. King Neb lives like an animal for seven periods. Did you know this is an actual psychological condition called “boanthropy”, when one believes themselves to be a cow or an ox?

“After this time had passed, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven. My sanity returned, and I praised and worshiped the Most High and honored the one who lives forever.” :34

May this comfort each of us. No matter the slip or fall, God can restore the one who humbly seeks Him. Note King Neb’s praises through the end of the chapter, by the grace of God Most High, he was restored in full, giving all glory and honor to God.

Hallelujah! Our Heavenly Father can do great things with a surrendered heart. He can restore; He can redeem. He can turn one’s worst years into one’s greatest testimony! Hallelujah and amen.

Daily Word

James 5

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Read James 5 – The Lord doesn’t miss a thing. Our chapter begins with an admonishment against the wealthy, self-indulgent, oppressors of the day. Meanwhile, the Lord (through James) encourages us to be patient. (:7). We are reminded of the prophets patience, and Job specifically. He was up against the very trials of Satan, yet persevered and the Lord generously restored him.

Verse :12 is so simple and right. May your YES be yes and your NO be no…. there is no need for swearing, the Lord will not ask you, “But did you cross your heart, and hope to die, and stick a needle in your eye?” about it. (Where do we come up with things like that anyway???) That goes for God and man… be a person who’s YES and NO does not waiver.

Verses :13-18 speak on the privilege and responsibility of prayer. One should pray for themselves, rejoice, call on the elders, and verse :16… notice what’s required: “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

I was part of a recovery ministry for 5 years. When I was new in the program I balked at the idea of confessing my sins to another person. I thought it was all between Jesus and me; he knew, he forgave, so why speak about that which has been forgiven? Finally, the day came. I couldn’t move forward in the program without taking this step, and so I fearfully met with a person I knew I could trust and she graciously listened as I poured out my confession. Beloved, I can’t even begin to explain the healing that washed over me! I have never felt so clean! Our verse does not say ‘so you may be forgiven’, it says ‘so you may be healed’. If you are holding something that is churning in your heart right now, pray hard about who the LORD wants you to confess it to. Do not let it fester; it has already stolen enough of your life. Do what the LORD instructs so you may be healed.

Beloved, I pray the Book of James has blessed you and that you return to it every so often for a well check. Tomorrow we will visit the Psalms.

Daily Word

Deuteronomy 30

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Read Deuteronomy 30 – Repentance and Forgiveness
God sees all of time at once. He is outside of time. When he sees a newborn baby, he also sees her going to prom, having her own babies, aging, walking with a cane, and dying. It is a big idea for us, and I want you to hold onto that as you think about our chapter.
God knows Israel will stray and he is already offering restoration. Verse one speaks of a future exile… isn’t that incredible? They are just entering the Promised Land and God leaves this word for the future generations who mess up. God says if they repent and obey, he will restore them. (:2)
Do you know this has already happened? God’s Word is incredible! It happened when they were brought back from Babylonian captivity – It’s recorded in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah in the Old Testament. And in our time it happened when Israel was restored as a nation in 1948! “The LORD your God will return you to the land that belonged to your ancestors, and you will possess that land again. Then he will make you even more prosperous and numerous than your ancestors!”
In 2019, I traveled to Israel. I saw this first hand. But there’s more to come. God says he will change their hearts so that they love him with all their heart and soul so they may live. (:6) Remember, God is outside of time. Beloved, we live in such an exciting time to see these things become reality. Keep watching!
God says his instructions are not too hard for them. He put them right in their hearts so they can obey. (:11-15) This is the choice between life and death, and the LORD longs for them to choose life. (:19) And this all goes back to the promise God made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – the LORD God Almighty keeps his promises! (:20)

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Psalm 119:17-32

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Monday!  Monday!  Read Psalm 119:17-32 – Then read it again, slowly, as if the words are yours.  Our psalmist is leaning in to the Lord’s word.  He is refreshed.  He is learning to live brand new and it is wonderful!  “Be good to your servant, that I may live and obey your word.  Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions.” 119:17-18….”I weep with sorrow; encourage me by your word .”119:28  Have you ever felt so bogged down by life that you cried out for wisdom?  “Keep me from lying to myself; give me the privilege of knowing your instructions.”119:29  Yes, I can be my worst enemy, I can justify and get lost in lying to myself – and yet, here is this privilege – this privilege of God’s Word – this privilege of prayer, always ready to lead me forward.  “I will pursue your commands, for you expand my understanding.”119:32  Beloved, Jesus has so much for you!  Lean in, ask, pray, confess and repent… living clean and refreshed is the absolute best!🤗🛁🙏🏻📖🙏🏻🛁🤗