RESTORE 

Well, it’s no wonder that I would use this word during my inventory week is it? This is my catch word. But why? What does this word mean to me? 

“He restores my soul? He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Psalm 23:3

I have learned what it means to let God restore my soul. Especially when I feel like I am at the end of myself. My task is to set myself in a posture to be restored by Him. It is not just going to happen unless I am in the right posture or frame of mind. I must set myself ready to be restored. Now I know that God could strike me like He did Saul on the road to Damascus. But I have found that He moves in my life more when I am in a ready posture for Him to do so. He restores me when I am looking to be restored. He WILL lead me in paths that are for my good and for the good of others if for no other reason at all because I am His and it is a strong testament to Him not to me. 

Have you found the things that restore your soul? One of the most important things for me is a my daily time I spend with Jesus. Long lazy mornings with my Bible and my journal on my porch are the constants that I must have and do for soul restoration. Especially after a long busy, hustle and bustle season. And might I add, its imperative DURING the long busy season as well if I am to accomplish all the tasks that are put before me. This week, this inventory week, I am quite blessed to work for a school so that I don’t have to hit the door running immediately after the busy holiday season. I usually get at least a week after Christmas to spend my time reflecting, resting and asking Him for the restoration my soul needs. 

What are some things that restore your soul? I like to, and need to take more long walks. I am not a power walker for exercise, although I need to be, but if life seems to be beating up on me quite a bit, I do notice I handle things better and differently when I engage in long walks. I also love kayaking and while our lake has been down for quite a while, that is not something I have been able to do much of this year. I look forward to spring and hope to do more of it. There is nothing like being on the water early in the morning just floating along and taking in God’s beautiful creation. 

Another thing that restores my soul is being creative, painting or sewing. I find that when I take time to busy my hands, that my mind doesn’t have quite as much time to busy itself. It helps me to get out of my head just a bit and to create. Painting is my go to creative outlet these days but I have been a seamstress and I have done ceramics in the past. I believe that God gives every one of us a creative outlet and that it is meant to give our soul restoration. Think on it, what’s yours? It could be cooking or organizing. It could be any number of things. You will know it when you find it and once you find it you will know when you need it for your soul. 

This week is a week for me to think on the things that will restore me. And to spend a little time in them and to set myself up for them in the future. 

Think on this for yourself. Ask yourself a few questions. Are you weary? Is it just being tired coming off of a busy season or is life in general or circumstances getting you down? Have you been through some sort of loss? A job, a relationship, a ….. person?  If you have you may need to take an inventory too, or you may just need to take an inventory just because we are leaving one year and entering another. Whatever your reason when you are taking your inventory, ask your heavenly Father what you can do for soul restoration? And then do it! I say this because we can sit around all day and think about taking a long walk and never get around to it. But when I make myself, when I go put on my shoes and actually head outside and do it, is when I will feel better. The same for painting, I just gave up my studio because my son moved into it for a while and the place that I paint now is a little less convenient than my former studio. But when I take the extra steps it takes to get some paint on me and on a canvas, my soul just feels better and more like it can take on the next steps of life. 

If I’m not careful I just think about it like the story in John chapter 5 about the man at the Pool of Bethesda. He laid there at the pool for 38 years waiting to be helped to get in, when all he had to do was get in himself. Let’s take the time this week and see where our souls need restoration and let’s ask Him to show us the best way! And then let’s just do it! 

Love you my friends!