Restoration Begins With Repentance

Restoration Begins With Repentance | September 7th

The ultimate goal is to bring about a noticeable change when restoring something, whether a home, classic car, furniture, or artwork. This transformation usually involves a stripping process to examine the object thoroughly before the work begins. Typically, a designated setting is necessary for the restoration to be effective. For example, you wouldn't restore an old painting outdoors during a rainstorm or take a car apart during a blizzard. The conditions of the restoration are just as important as the tools themselves.

Likewise, when God is working on our restoration, He first leads us to a place of repentance. This is a transformative process, as we see in the story of Jonah. After attempting to flee from God's call for him to go to Nineveh, God allowed a storm to erupt on the sea, which led to Jonah being thrown overboard (Chapter 1). However, the Lord sent a whale to rescue Jonah, providing the perfect place for his restoration to begin.

Jonah 2:1-10 says, "From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. 2 He said: In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry. 3 You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me. 4 I said, I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple. 5 The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. 6 To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit. 7 When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. 8 Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God's love for them. 9 But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, Salvation comes from the Lord. 10 And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land."

Jonah was so off course that God had to create the ideal setting for his surrender.
Thus, remember, God will put you in places that may seem inconvenient and unconventional, but do not worry; He has your restoration in mind and knows that repentance is necessary.

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