Experience Restoration
“He (God) restores my soul!”
Psalm 23:3(NKJV)
Restoration is the goal of redemption. The Psalmist says, “He (God) restores my soul!” Psalm 23:3 (NKJV) What sin has broken, grace restores. The process begins when we humbly admit our need for God and others. While we may be apt to admit our need for God, sometimes we are reluctant to admit our need for others in the process. Fear of embarrassment or shame often creates barriers to finding the help and support we need. Help is available. That’s why God created us to live in a community of faith called the church, the family of God. Jesus sent out His disciples in twos. He promised to be in our midst when two are three are gathered in His name. In Ephesians, the Bible spells out the significance of doing life in community with other Christ followers and the value of the local church when it says,
“Now you are no longer strangers to God and foreigners to heaven, but you are members of God's very own family, citizens of God's country, and you belong in God's household with every other Christian. What a foundation you stand on now: the apostles and the prophets; and the cornerstone of the building is Jesus Christ Himself! We who believe are carefully joined together with Christ as parts of a beautiful, constantly growing temple for God. And you also are joined with Him and with each other by the Spirit and are part of this dwelling place of God.” Ephesians 2:19-22 (LB)
Do you belong to a church family like that? When we connect with one another in a local church, we find encouragement, strength, hope, and recovery. After Lazarus was raised from the dead, it was to those standing beside him that Jesus said, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” John 11:44c (NIV) Why? Even though Lazarus came back from the dead, he was still bound in the grave clothes of a dead man. He couldn’t take them off without some help. Imagine being alive but still bound by old grave clothes. Imagine how thankful he must have been to be free of them. The same can be said of you and me when we come alive in Christ from being spiritually dead. There are grave clothes that need to be removed. Those grave clothes may be old hurts, habits, and hang-ups, and God uses those around us in our community of faith to help us get rid of them. Then, we can help others in the same way. It’s why I love the local church! It’s where you belong.
Are you a member of God’s very own family called the church, a local church where you belong? If not, we want to invite you to check out our Membership Class on Sunday, August 25th in person or online. You can register now for the class at wc.org/membership and discover the difference a church family can make in your life.
Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board, or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.
Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.