RESTORED

RESTORED BY THE MASTER

[You] have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him. —Colossians 3:10

Over the centuries, many attempts have been made to restore damaged and time-worn masterpieces of art. While some of these efforts have skillfully preserved the original work of artists, others have actually damaged many works of genius, including ancient Greek statues and at least two paintings by da Vinci.

In Paul’s letter to the Christians at Colosse, he described a restoration process that is impossible in the world of art. It’s a restoration of God’s people. Paul wrote, “You have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Col. 3:9-10).

This is no attempt at renovating the work of a deceased artist. It is a spiritual renewal from the living God who created us and gave us new life in His Son, Jesus Christ. His forgiveness brightens the colors of our lives while His grace sharpens the lines of His purpose for us.

The canvas of our lives is in the skilled hands of our Lord who knows who and what He designed us to be. No matter how sin-damaged and dirty we may be, there is hope for renewal and restoration. The Master Artist is alive and at work within us.

Praise, my soul, the King of heaven,
To His feet thy tribute bring;
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Evermore His praises sing.

Jesus specializes in restoration

SEE YOURSELF STRONG :

And we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight. – Numbers 13:33

How does the devil see you? Does he see you as a terrifying and mighty warrior of God...or does he see you as a wimp he can whip in a minute?

The answer to that question depends on you. I realized that one day as I was studying the children of Israel and their failure to enter the Promised Land. The key to their failure is found in these words: "And we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in theirs."

The reason the Israelites were so terrified to fight the giants in Canaan wasn't because those giants were so big. It was because the Israelites saw themselves as so small! It was what they were in their own sight that defeated them.

The same thing is true for you as a believer. It's what you are in your own sight that will make the difference. If, in your own sight, you're a weak, powerless Christian, the devil will run over you three or four times a day or more if he's not busy. But when you begin to see yourself as God sees you, as a conquering son or daughter of the Almighty God equipped with the very power of God Himself, the devil will want to steer clear of you.

The devil would rather do anything than come against somebody who's bold and courageous, because he's a coward himself. In fact, ever since Jesus came up out of that grave, Satan's heart has melted within him at the sound of that Name in the mouth of one who has faith in it.

If you're not strong in the Lord in your own sight, you need to change that. You need to get so full of God's Word and so full of the Holy Ghost that you walk around like a spiritual giant. Turn the tables on the devil and let him find out what it feels like to be a grasshopper for a change.

HAVE A CHAMPION’S MENTALITY 

We all experience times in life when we feel uncertain about our abilities. We may feel less than confident about ourselves. Maybe you aren’t sure what the outcome of a situation will be, or you have an opportunity that seems a little over your head. I’ve found that anytime God wants to increase us, He has to stretch us first. He has to help us see beyond our limitations and learn to trust that He knows what is in us and how to get it out of us. He knows you better than you know yourself, and He is certain of your abilities!

Many people are familiar with world-famous boxer, Muhammad Ali and his renowned trainer, Angelo Dundee. What most people don’t know is that just before every boxing match, Dundee would write a number on a small slip of paper and place it inside Ali’s glove. That may sound like a strange thing to give a boxer right before a fight, but Dundee had a reason for what he did. The number that he wrote on that slip of paper was the round in which he predicted Ali would knock out his opponent. Dundee was so confident in Ali’s ability that he didn’t just guess whether or not Ali would win, but when he would win—and Ali knew it.

I love that story because it shows the confidence Ali’s trainer had in him and the positive effect it had. I believe that confidence played a tremendous part in the champ’s amazing success as one of the greatest boxers that ever lived. Dundee was certain of Muhammad Ali’s ability to succeed, and the confidence that he instilled in his friend helped to give Ali a champion’s mentality.

In the same way, God is certain of your ability to succeed. After all, He placed it there. Even when you’re not certain of the outcome, God has confidence in you. Let that sink down into your heart today—the God who holds the universe in the palm of His hand has faith in you. When you really embrace that truth, it will cause you to have a champion’s mentality. With God, it’s not whether or not you will have victory—it’s just a matter of when!

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57, NIV)

THE ROOT AND THE FRUIT :

'...A tree is known by its fruit.' Matthew 12:33 NKJV

In a letter to George Whitefield, a leader of the Great Awakening, Benjamin Franklin wrote: 'I can only show my gratitude for those mercies from God, by a readiness to help His other children and my brethren. For I do not think that thanks and compliments, though repeated weekly, can discharge our real obligations to each other, and much less those to our Creator. You will see in this, my notion of good works, that I am far from expecting to merit Heaven by them. By Heaven we understand a state of happiness, infinite in degree and eternal in duration. I can do nothing to deserve such rewards... The faith you mention certainly has its use in the world. I do not desire to see it diminished, nor would I endeavour to lessen it in any man. But I wish it were more productive of good works than I have generally seen it; I mean real good works; works of kindness, charity, mercy and public spirit; not holiday-keeping, sermon-reading or hearing; performing church ceremonies, or making long prayers filled with flatteries and compliments...The worship of God is a duty; the hearing and reading of sermons may be useful; but if men rest in hearing and praying, as too many do, it is as if a tree should value itself for being watered and putting forth leaves, though it never produce any fruit.' In aiming to declare that salvation is by grace and not works, never forget that saving faith always produces good works! Faith is the root of salvation. But deeds of generosity and kindness are the fruit of salvation - and 'a tree is known by its fruit.'

PRAYER FOR THE DAY :

“Let the heaven be glad, and the earth rejoice! Let the sea and everything in it shout His praise!” (Psalm 96:11)

Dear Lord God, I praise You. I honor You. I see Your holy face in sunrise. Your smiling face breaks through the cloud with brilliant sunshine. Your holy light brightens up the whole world after a darkness night. I sing hymns of praise with my lips of pureness on this beautiful morning. Let the morning brings me words of God and shower down abundant blessings upon me from the throne of grace for I am the chosen servant of God and His wonderfully made child. Bless me O God!

Gratefully, in Jesus’ holy name. Amen !!!

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