It's Restoration Season

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
1 Peter 5:10

 When God told me this would be the year of restoration, I didn't think it would actually mean a whole lot of change and quite a few goodbyes.

That in order for something to be restored I had to let go of the way I previously viewed it. I had to let go and embrace the new way of seeing myself, others, and the opportunities God had given me.

That there is a process for renewal and establishment and it means that the box you try to put yourself in, God wants to remove from under you. It's scary, it's uncertain but in the midst of it is divine appointment.

It's funny how when it's restoration season, the restorer sets the agenda - which means sorry to say friend - but you get no say in the process. This isn't like a tv show where you get to choose what gets chucked out or worked on. Friends, it’s also not just physical transformation - the heart is really what God wants to restore.

When I thought of restoration I kind of assumed that this would mean I would be given what I had lost. But actually, with God, it's often a trade-in. You can't receive the new without giving up the old, so sometimes this process can make you feel like you've been robbed.

That a thief has come and stolen your blessings, your joy, your peace and you don’t feel like you've received the abundant life God promised you. At least that's what the first half of this year felt like for me. 

Because I just kept clinging onto what I was comfortable with, all I could see was my broken pieces. But God can’t restore the brokenness if you don’t give all your pieces over to him. You can't embrace the rain when you just think it’s going to ruin your seed.

So would you let God fix things they only way he can? God didn’t overlook you friend. He is singing over you 'would you believe again?'.

Don’t look at what it was, look at what God is transforming it to be. It's time to prophesy to dry bones, to see the army rising up when all you see is death. To see the victory when in the natural you seem surrounded.

 Instead of your shame
you will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
you will rejoice in your inheritance.
And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,
and everlasting joy will be yours.

“For I, the Lord, love justice;
I hate robbery and wrongdoing.
In my faithfulness I will reward my people
and make an everlasting covenant with them.
Their descendants will be known among the nations
and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will acknowledge
that they are a people the Lord has blessed.”
Isaiah 61:8-9

Having finally crossed over to the other side (for this season), I can assure you whist it hasn't always been easy, choosing to stand firm in faith is the best decision to make. Choosing to let go and trust that God will give it back to you better - WILL ALWAYS PAY OFF.

God will restore to you more than what was taken. And you know what? It'll be better than worldly monetary gain - you'll gain joy, peace, and his love in abundance and that’s priceless.

I'm so thankful for this season, but even more excited for this coming year. As the old has been cleared out, and by his spirit, I have overcome challenges, resistance, and the trials of this year, I'm ready to embrace a new season -

 ‘You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder.’
Isaiah 9:3

Bring on the multiplication and abundance! Thanks for being so patient with me friends - I promise this new year will bring a lot more posts from me!