Lent 2017: Week 5

Theme: Restoration

To bring back to it’s intended condition.

Thoughts from Jonah:

The people of Nineveh believed! Nineveh was such a large city it took 3 days to walk from one end to the other. Jonah preached a simple message of repentance: “Forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” And “so they believed.” This was not an eloquent, profound message, but it gripped the hearts of the people. And so began a work of restoration in the hearts, minds and souls of these people. God turned from punishing them to restoring them to Himself.

Throughout Scripture there is a theme of restoration. God at work to bring back to the state of what was originally intended. New perspective. Restored relationships. Renewed hope. Fresh joy. God is a God of restoration! The little book of Joel in the Old Testament starts out with the southern part of Israel in devastation. The land had been hit by a monstrous plague of locusts. As the locusts moved through the land every green thing in sight was consumed. A desert locust swarm can be 460 square miles (1,200 square kilometers) in size and pack between 40 and 80 million locusts into less than half a square mile (one square kilometer). Each locust can eat its weight in plants each day, so a swarm of such size would eat 423 million pounds (192 million kilograms) of plants every day.

The prophet Joel begins to speak to the people for the need to turn to God wholeheartedly in this time of crisis. He drops this amazing promise into their hearts:

“So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust and the chewing locust. My great army, which I sent among you.” Joel 2:25

Even while the devastation or loss is being felt, restoration is being promised. Restoration is God’s middle name. Consider your life, your relationships, your walk with God, your mood, and your mental state. Where do you long for a renewal, a work of bringing back to intended condition? It’s time to turn it wholeheartedly over to God for His work!

Prayer

Lord let hope take root in my heart and mind.

Open my eyes to see all that you would do in me and through me, for your glory,

as I submit to you.

In Jesus name, Amen.

Verse

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. “ Romans 15:13

Intention

Nurture a vision of possibilities for your life, your family and friends, for your church and the nation.

Let hope take root.

Look with eyes of faith.

Love without restraint.

Live immersed in hope.