Praise day 18

Praise Him for His work of restoration. Let me explain what I mean, on this day before the American holiday of Thanksgiving Day . . .

God is in the restoration business!

He always has been . . .

We see the concept of restoration in the Law:

          Then it shall be, because he hath sinned and is guilty, that he shall restore
          that which he took violently away ....he shall even restore it in the principal
          and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it to him.... (Leviticus 6:4-6)

          If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or
          sheep; he shall restore double. (Exodus 22:4)

David understood the principle of restoration:

          And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely show you kindness for
          Jonathan your father's sake, and will restore all the land of Saul your father....
          II Samuel 9:7)

Remember when Elisha was staying with a widow woman and her son?  The son died, and the woman appealed to the man of God. Elisha prayed and the life returned to the child.

Think back to Job, when he lost his possessions, his family, and his health to the devil -- God restored twice as much to him.

Jesus practiced and taught the concept of restoration.

           Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." So he stretched it out and
           it was completely restored, just as sound as the other.  (Matthew 12:13)

           Once more Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened,
           his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. (Mark 8:25)

           But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give
           half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything,
           I will pay back four times the amount."  (Luke 19:8)
 God is our restorer today, too! He will restore our physical needs:               Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the Lord will do great things.              (Joel 2:21)                And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord                your God, that has dealt wondrously with you.....  (Joel 2:26) He will restore our souls, our minds, wills, emotions:                He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for His               name's sake.  (Psalm 23:3) He will restore our health:                For I will restore health to you, and I will heal you of your wounds, says               the Lord; .....  (Jeremiah 30:17) He will restore our freedom, especially giving freedom from our sins:                So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.  (John 8:36) He will restore a "right spirit" in us:                 Purge me with hyssop, and I will be clean: wash me, and I will be                 whiter than snow. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a                 right spirit within me.  (Psalm 51:8,10)                  A new heart will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and                  I will take away the stony heart our of your flesh, and I will give you an                 heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk                  in my statutes, and you will keep my judgments, and do them. (Ezekiel                 36:26-27) He will restore the joy of our salvation:                  Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to                  sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will                  turn back to you. (Psalm 51:12-13) He that spare not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?  (Romans 8:32)