Restore to Me

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Restore to Me

Have you ever lost something  that just tears you all up?     In utter grief,  you feel devastated and ruined  because of your loss.     You think  nothing in this world  can restore your loss.     But,  all things are possible  with God.     God can restore  what we have lost — and He longs  to restore  what is vital to us.

King David lost his integrity  and blamelessness  before the LORD.     He committed adultery  with Bathsheba  and even had her husband, Uriah,  killed in battle  in an effort  to cover up his sin.     David had gone  from good  to bad  to worse.     And then,  mercifully,  he was caught and exposed.     David had no recourse.     He had to turn  to God for help,  mercy,  and forgiveness.     Psalm 51 is David’s prayer  before the LORD.     In that prayer,  David reveals a truth  for each of us  to learn  in our times of devastation.     It is  in Psalm 51:12-13,

Restore to me  the joy  of Thy salvation,   
And sustain me  with a willing spirit.   
Then  I will teach transgressors  Thy ways,   
And sinners  will be converted  to Thee.

David’s sins  of adultery and murder  took away all of his joy  before the LORD — a terrible loss.     Now,  all he could feel before the LORD  was guilt and remorse.     His sins  made him feel filthy  and he realized  how horribly  he had sinned against the loving,  holy Lord.     David knew  there was pure joy  in a good relationship  with the Lord,  and so he prayed,  “Restore to me  the joy  of  Thy salvation.”      Only God can forgive us  and make us clean  in His sight again.

David remembered  God’s almighty greatness and compassion,  so he asked for more — “sustain me  with a willing spirit.”     David knew  that he had sinned  because he had not been willing  to do what he knew was right  in God’s sight.     He really needed  to have a willingly obedient heart again.     Only God could give him  willing obedience,  like he used to have.     David definitely did not want  to be suckered  into more and more sin — and end up  in hell.     He felt bad enough as it was  and wanted to know the joy  of living  according to God’s will again.

David could pray  and believe  for this much relief and restoration  because he trusted  in the LORD’s love and compassion  in our every situation.     But,  David did not want  to be fruitless  in receiving these great gifts  from God.     David wanted  to show his thankfulness  for God’s mercy.     David knew  how there are many people  in this world,  who don’t go to God  for forgiveness  when they have sinned — simply because  they don’t feel  they can be forgiven.

God is much greater  than all of our sins.     He is able  to forgive.    We just have to trust  in His love  and salvation  in Jesus Christ.    David was willing  to expose all his sins  before the people  and tell others  about God’s great power  to forgive all our sins.     David’s whole life  would be proof  that God truly forgives  when we go to Him  in prayer.

So,  David has literally been teaching people  about God’s love and forgiveness,  through his confessional psalms,  his thanksgivings,  and his renewed efforts  to live  according to God’s will.     David’s psalms  have been witnessing to people  for around 3,000 years now.     David knew  that God would cause this witness  to last,  and so he wrote,

Then I will teach transgressors  Thy ways,   
And sinners  will be converted  to Thee.

We are the sinners and transgressors  that need  to be converted  and return  to the God of all mercy  and love.     We are  to let David’s experience restore us  to a good relationship  with the LORD of lords,  our Redeemer  and Savior.     As forgiven sinners,  we can witness  to other sinners  in need  of forgiveness.     And,  we need to witness to them,  so that they too,  can escape the due judgments  of hell.

Because we have been loved  by God,  we need to share that love  with those around us — like King David did.     As we share the love of God  with the world around us,  we say,  “Hallelujah!     Lord Jesus,  You have delivered us  from the consequences  of our sins.     Open up our mouths  to witness  to the greatness  of Your love.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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