He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. 

                                                                                                                 Psalm 23:3 

Some of the most powerful and positive words in the English language begin with the letters “re.” Consider these: restore, redeem, rebuild, revive, reconcile, rest, recreate, refresh, and renew. All of these words carry with them positive, healthy, and powerful concepts most, if not all, of us would like to see as a reality in our lives. But perhaps the most important idea being conveyed through these words is that there is always an opportunity for us to turn things around and experience a more vibrant and productive life. For example, we all get tired and weary but we can recreate and rest, effectively recharging our spiritual and physical “batteries.” Or when relationships are strained due to betrayal, conflict, or tensions, we can exercise forgiveness, bringing with it the opportunity to reconcile, leading to a restoration of the relationship. These are powerful words and each one of them brings the idea of restoration and the hope for better things. Consider the following scripture from Peter’s sermon: 

Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord…

                                                                                                                        Acts 3:19 

This passage outlines four basic principles for experiencing restoration in our lives.

Principle #1: Restoration comes when we repent.

To repent is “to change one’s mind.” Therefore, repentance is necessary for change to occur in our lives. Without repentance, there is no reason for a change in our attitudes, words, or behaviors. Recognition that we are moving away from God’s design and purpose for our lives should lead to this change of mind. Just like the prodigal son, we must come to the realization that we have strayed and then commit to return to the One who has given His life for us. Yes, this must occur for us to receive the gift of salvation, but repentance is something that we must continue to exercise throughout our Christian lives.

Principle #2: Restoration comes when we return to God.

If repentance is the changing of one’s mind, then returning would be the action brought about by this change. As believers, we are not immune to experiencing times of drifting away from our purpose in Christ. Like the words to the old hymn express, “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love. Here’s my heart, oh, take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above.”* All of us must guard our hearts and our minds in order to prevent this moving away from the God who loves us and has our best interest at heart. But the good news is, when we find ourselves having wandered, we can repent and return.

Principle #3: Restoration comes through times of refreshing.

The restoration of which Peter is referring comes as “our sins are wiped away.” With this recognition that we are completely forgiven, times of spiritual refreshment can begin to flood into our lives. No matter how many times that we fail, as believers, we can experience this restoration by following this simple formula:

Failure     Repent     Return     Receive Forgiveness     Enjoy Refreshment

When we are in Christ, there is no condemnation (Romans 8:1). Our eternal security is found in the finished work of Christ on the cross. But Jesus’ sacrifice not only brings about our salvation, it gives us the privilege to enjoy these times of refreshing as we commune with Him daily. And that brings us to our final principle.

Principle #4: Restoration comes from the presence of God.

It is the presence of God that brings spiritual refreshment. Enjoying a personal relationship with God through our faith in Jesus Christ is the goal of the Christian life. It is not an effort to be religious rather it is entirely relational. When the power of the Holy Spirit guides our lives, we are guarded against the many trappings that are in the world. But when we do morally fail, we can be assured that restoration is available as we repent and return. God is always faithful and eager to restore those who find themselves drifting away from His best.

Are you a born again believer in Jesus? Are you enjoying “times of refreshing” that come from the presence of the Lord? This really is the ultimate in restoration!

 

 

*Come, Thou Fount Of Every Blessing, Robert Robinson, (1735-1790)