Setting Me Straight

Restore us, O LORD God of hosts; cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved! Psalm 80:19 NKJV

When we pray the very thing God desires for us, we can have full assurance of an affirmative answer! I have often looked at past mistakes, failures, and sins in such a way that I thought I had messed things up too badly for any hope of a fresh start. Because I could not change the past I seemed to think the black marks would never go away and would forever remain a part of my present. I was like the person who had broken my leg and never had the bone set straight. Walking with a limp became a normal (and sadly accepted) way of life for me. There was the continual sense that although I was forgiven I had blown it…my track record remain marred. While this should not be the case for a child of God, I strongly believe it is often the reality of many. The continual self loathing, internal condemnation, and hopelessness is not God’s doing. He knows at which point we withdraw our hands from accepting His full gift of forgiveness.

I want to go back to the broken bone analogy. Asking God to restore me is the same as asking Him to “set me straight” again, to realign me with Himself, to get me back on course. It is the reality of a fresh start! It is coming to the place of seeing that whatever has happened is unchangeable but not unforgivable. Will I dare to embrace this truth and allow it to change my view of God and myself? Not if I keep putting conditions on it and limiting its full meaning! Not if I cling to condemnation rather than grace.

I have often said that becoming a Christian and accepting God’s free gift of salvation was easy. Living out the Christian life is the hard part. Not because it isn’t possible but because I carry with me wrong mindsets, unresolved issues, and areas in my life that have yet to experience the touch of God’s grace. My restoration and deliverance in any area requires honesty in the inward parts, opened hands lifted in God’s direction, and trust in His ability to do whatever “surgery” is necessary. He is not only the Landscaper of my soul….He is the Great Physician who heals and restores!

Living out my faith and seeing internal changes is a life long process. He will reveal to me where I have gotten off track, where I have demanded my way over His will, and where I have messed up big time. But the revelation and the restoration will both be done in love and with success!

Father, I can become over whelmed with all that needs to be seen, acknowledged, and changed in me. It is only as I see my need to simply cooperate with You that my soul relaxes and my mind becomes at ease. I join You in Your work of restoration and healing. Amen.