Restored
Restore us, O God of our salvation, and cause Your anger toward us to cease. ~ Psalms 85:4
Psalm 85 beautifully expresses the heart of a people longing for God’s mercy, restoration, and peace. The psalmist pleads with God to restore them to their former strength and favor, confident in His unchanging love and faithfulness.
When I think of the word restoration, I often picture an old home. There’s something special about a home that’s been restored rather than remodeled. Restoration brings it back to its original design, using the same materials and craftsmanship that made it unique in the first place. Remodeling, on the other hand, often involves updates and changes to match current trends and styles.
This is the kind of restoration the psalmist was pleading for and not just an update, but a return to their original purpose and identity as God’s chosen people. Isn’t that the cry of every human heart? Deep down, we long to be restored to the relationship with God we were created for.
The good news is that this restoration is available to us today! Through the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus, God has made a way for us to be reconciled to Him. No matter how far we’ve wandered or how broken we feel, His love is ready to restore us to the joy, peace, and purpose we were designed to experience in Him.
The decision to step into that restoration that is available through Christ Jesus is within your power and reach today. All you need to do is acknowledge your need like the psalmist, come to God with humility, recognizing your need for His mercy and restoration.
Next return to His presence by spending intentional time in prayer and His Word, asking Him to reveal areas in your life where you need to be restored. Embrace His grace and remember, restoration is a gift not something we earn, but something we receive through our relationship with the Father through Jesus. Then live in His strength as He restores you, lean on Him to walk in the fullness of the relationship He’s called you to.
Today I want to encourage you to remember God’s desire is to restore you to the relationship you were always meant to have with Him. He takes the broken pieces of our lives and lovingly puts them back together, not as something new and unfamiliar, but as a masterpiece according to His original design. Let Psalm 85 remind you of the faithfulness of God. No matter where you are, He is ready to restore you to the joy of your salvation and to revive your spirit. Trust Him and watch as He turns your story into one of grace, renewal, and hope.
Today’s scripture reading: Psalms 85
1 Lord, You have been favorable to Your land; You have brought back the captivity of Jacob.
2 You have forgiven the iniquity of Your people; You have covered all their sin. Selah
3 You have taken away all Your wrath; You have turned from the fierceness of Your anger.
4 Restore us, O God of our salvation, and cause Your anger toward us to cease.
5 Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger to all generations?
6 Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?
7 Show us Your mercy, Lord, and grant us Your salvation.
8 I will hear what God the Lord will speak, for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints; But let them not turn back to folly.
9 Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land.
10 Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed.
11 Truth shall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
12 Yes, the Lord will give what is good; and our land will yield its increase.
13 Righteousness will go before Him, and shall make His footsteps our pathway.
The Daily Dose 