Repairer Of Your Heart

Hello, sweet friends!  As promised, now that the summer is winding down, I'm getting back into writing mode and gearing up for another incredible year of ministry.  Thank you for being a part of it.  Without you, there would be no ministry, only words floating out into internet space.  I'm much more content knowing my words are landing in your heart.

It's been an incredible week for me.  This doesn't happen all the time, but as I was reading my Bible this week (specifically in Nehemiah), my heart pressed against my chest so strongly that I knew without a doubt, God had something important he wanted to tell me.

I will be the first to tell you that I am no Bible scholar when it comes to the story of Nehemiah.  But from my limited undertanding, I can tell you that it takes place generations after God's chosen people, the Israelites, returned to Jerusalem from being exiled to Babylon.  The walls that protected Jerusalem still laid in ruin from the Babylonian attack, causing the Israelites who survived the exile to be in great trouble and disgrace. The text goes on to say that when Nehemiah heard about this, he sat down and wept.  For days, he mourned and fasted and prayed to God.

During that time, God impressed on him a great burden to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem, restoring security and dignity to the Israelites.

God impressed many things on my heart this week through the story of Nehemiah, but here's what I feel he wants me to share with you today.

Just as the walls laid in ruin for generations because of enemy attack, so too, women's hearts lay in ruin because of our enemy, Satan's, attacks. Confidence has been destroyed. Dignity has been stripped away.  Identity has been marred.  Faith has given way to fear. The hearts of generation after generation of women have been destroyed and long devastated.

But God wants to restore women's confidence, rebuild their identity and refuel their faith. God is called the Repairer of Broken Walls (Isaiah 58:12). He took me to another scripture, Isaiah 61, to complete his message to me. I'd like to share it and then close today's post with a question for you to consider.

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.  He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve, to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.  They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.  They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devasated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations."

Friend, hear and know today that God wants to rebuild what is broken in you and restore the places long devastated.  He wants to give you back your life and show you who he created you to be.  He wants to bestow on you a crown of beauty instead of ashes and make you a display of his splendor for the generation of little girls who are watching you today.

The life God has for you comes only through an intimate relationship with him. Here's my question for you.  How well do you know this God who loves you extravagantly? The best way to get to know him is by spending time with him and meditating on his life-giving Word.  If you feel overwhelmed by the Bible, I'd like to encourage you this week to pick just one scripture and meditate on it.  You can pick Isaiah 61 if you'd like.  Ask God to open the ears of your heart so you can hear him whisper a life-giving word to you.  Expect to hear from him.  He loves talking with you!

If you are regularly reading the Bible, I'd love to hear what you're learning! Has God spoken something to your heart?  Tell me about it in the comments section.  I always love hearing from you!