It’s time for a new word for the year. If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you know that for the last few years, instead of resolutions, I start the year by praying and asking God to give me a word to frame my year. To provide a scaffold on which to build. And every time I’ve been faithful to submit the days ahead to Him, God has been faithful to speak. I’m always amazed when I look back and see how each word has intertwined with so many things through each year.
Last year, my word of the year was Freedom, and it was certainly a year for that. I saw God do amazing things in my life and I walked out of prisons that have bound me for years. I found freedom to accept myself for who God made me to be – in all my unique ways – and to embrace His beautiful design. I found the courage to shake off fear’s chains and step out in bold new ways that I hadn’t before. To take faith steps into the calling that God has placed on my life. Finding freedom to confront painful memories and past trauma that were buried and bring them to light to find healing.
Last year, I took tangible steps towards changing habits and leaving comfort zones behind. Last year was a POWERFUL year and I have celebrated so many moments of victory, so thankful to the Lord Who has carried me through. But now it’s time to move forward into 2024 in the freedom that God has granted. And to be honest, I’m more than a little humbled by the word that He gave.
The word that the Holy Spirit has laid on my heart for this year is Restoration. It’s interesting to me that He chose this word, as it’s the same word that reverberated in my heart for the latter part of 2023. A whisper of promise for what was to come. I think by walking into freedom, I discovered just how much the enemy had stolen from me. This reminder that the Lord is a God of restoration became a balm to my soul, giving me strength to rise up each time a shackle shook loose.
But what does restoration mean? According to Merriam Webster’s dictionary restore means to:
1: GIVE BACK, RETURN
2: to put or bring back into existence or use
3: to bring back to or put back into a former or original state : RENEW
4: to put again in possession of something
It’s time to reclaim what is mine as a daughter of the King. To be ready for God to move in my life. Anticipating His goodness and being open to how He wants to pour that out. I don’t want to miss what He has for me because restoration doesn’t come the way I expect it should.
The Good Shepherd Who leads me through green pastures, beside still waters, and satisfies my every need with His provision, is the One Who restores my soul. That word “restore” used here in Psalm 23 is the Hebrew word “shub” (pronounced shoob) meaning to turn back and it encompasses all of the above dictionary definition.
To turn back something to a “former or original state”.
We need only look to Genesis as God breathed His own breath of life into mankind for the first time to see what that original state was.
Restoration has always been the heart of the Father. His unfathomable Love would not allow for us to be separated and from the moment that Adam and Eve took that first step away from Him, He set in motion a plan to bring us back. It’s why He sent Emmanuel – God with us. Why Jesus went willingly to the Cross. To restore us again to the original state He’d designed – in communion and harmony with Him. Delighting in His Presence. At peace. Filled with Joy and Purpose. Lacking nothing, with our every need supplied.
In Luke 4, we read the account of Jesus quoting from the book of the prophet Isaiah in His hometown, Nazareth. They were words to let His people know that the Messiah – the Restorer – had come. But these were words that they would not accept. Words that offended them because the Restorer didn’t come the way they had expected. He wasn’t what they had anticipated.
These words from Isaiah 61 are the same ones that the Holy Spirit dropped into my heart for this year.
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Isaiah 61:1-3 (NKJV)
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
These words are both a promise and a mission. Because I believe that God has not only promised restoration to His children, but also desires to work through us to bring restoration to others. That is my fervent prayer for this year. I want to share the truth of God’s goodness with the world and to shine His light into dark places. To testify of His goodness. To share His abundant love. To proclaim His faithfulness and to bring Him glory.
Restoration may be the word given to frame my year, but I believe He wants to work beauty from your ashes too. Whatever you are going through right now, whatever you walked into this year carrying from the previous one, whatever has wounded and broken you, carry it to Jesus and lay it at His feet. This year – let it be the year of exchange. A time to give up your ashes, so He can give you beauty. To release your cloak of heaviness, so He can give you a garment light and airy with praise. To surrender your mourning, so you can receive the comfort and joy of His love.
Let Him return, restore, renew, revive. Let Him bring Life to those dead places again. Let Him bring freedom to your captivity. Let Him bind the wounds of your broken heart and mend them. Let Him give sight to the places you’ve been blind. Let Him lead you in paths of righteousness and leave the sin that’s entrapped you behind. Let Him plant your wandering heart in His garden and water you with His Word.
What the enemy has stolen will be returned. What has been broken will be mended. What was intended for destruction will be turned into a testimony of praise. What was marred and ruined will emerge a thing of beauty in His hands. What was thought to be forgotten will be remembered. What was dead will live again. What was empty will be filled to overflowing.
As we walk into 2024, let’s put our hands in His, look to the road ahead, and expect to see His good gifts and restoration in our lives. Even if it looks different than we may have anticipated. Let’s take hold of God promises and claim them as our own. As His children, they are our inheritance. He will make a way. He will raise the valleys and lower the mountains to make a path for our feet. He will heal, deliver, and restore. Because God is a God of Restoration.
I pray you experience the Restoration of the Lord this year, my friends.
Of Shattered Things 