Heart Restoration

Finding restoration after a distracted season where disturbance and turmoil of an untrusting and disordered mind occurs only when a deliberate choice is made. The result will be a steady and stable soul – one focused and fixed on the Lord. It is worth the work. It is worth the needed heart examination to rout out disruptions to our walk with the Lord.

We know this is a moment by moment choice, but how are we to attain this? How are we to find our restoration to the Lord when we have entertained and domesticated the very things that distanced us from focusing on Him, and living for Him?

We have said it begins with a heart cry – prayer, and this is true – it does. However, praying is a responsibility. We are to pray from our heart, but we are also to pray Biblically. Scripture holds the promises of God, and when we pray Biblically, we are praying His promises. We are asking Him to respond to the promises He wrote in His Word. God, who cannot lie, will be faithful to His promises and to the instruction He gives to us on the steps we need to take for heart restoration. He tells us what our priorities must be.

Psalm 119:26-30 instructs, ‘When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes! Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works. My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word! Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law! I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me.’

And, this is what it is instructing us to do:

1. When I told of my ways – tell the Lord the truth of your heart – He knows

2. You answered me – He will respond

3. Teach me your statutes – ask Him to teach you what you need to know about your heart reality, repentance, and restoration

4. Make me understand your precepts – ask for understanding

5. And I will meditate on your wondrous works – memorize His word, lock it in your heart so that you will not be tempted to be distracted

6. My soul melts away for sorrow – regret your sin, grieve your sin, repent of your sin

7. Strengthen me according to your word – ask for His strength in your weakness

8. Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law – ask Him to teach you. Tell Him you need Him, His Word – truth – to guide and keep you

9. I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me – choose Him, choose obedience, choose faithfulness. Set His ordinances before you … all the time

It is a choice. Are you ready? Can you? Will you?

• Thus says the LORD: "Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it (Jeremiah 6:16).

• Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long (Psalm 25:-4-5).

• Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever (Psalm 86:11-12).

• If I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight (Exodus 33:13).

#heart #prayer