Restoring grace

“Recovery is an acceptance that your life is in shambles and you have to change.”

There is a phrase we use a lot in Families in Recovery meetings.

Recovery is change. To recover means to get back what was lost, what the enemy has stolen from you.

There have been many days in my life where I felt completely ruined. Damaged goods. The experiences of my life somehow had broken me. I would look at other people and see what I wanted to be. I felt certain that my damaged, broken life was a glaring warning sign in the midst of beauty. How could God really love someone like me? Was there any hope for life to be different?

“Come running to bring your restoring grace to these ruins, to what the enemy has done to devastate your Holy Place. (Psalm 74:3 TPT)”

God created us to be His Holy Place. A temple of the Holy Spirit. He breathed beauty and life into our hearts, giving each person a unique and special identity. He made us whole – exactly like we are meant to be. A beautiful place for His Spirit to live.

How could God love a wretch like me? I have ruined everything!

When God looks at us, He sees us through eyes of grace. Grace is His gift to us. It is Loving us even though we don’t deserve it.

“For it was only through this wonderful grace that we believed in him. Nothing we did could ever earn this salvation, for it was the gracious gift from God that brought us to Christ! (Ephesians 2:8 TPT)”

When we start to understand that we are given grace, then we can start to be restored! Our own negative perceptions are the only thing holding us back. Our adversary becomes ourself!

“Never forget what your adversaries are saying. For their rage and uproar rise continually against you.
It’s time to stand up to them! (Psalm 74:23)”

God, we need you to stand up for us. Show us Your restoring grace and make these ruined temples into the beautiful creations we really are! Silence the constant lies in our minds! We want to hear the truth!

To quote my all- time favorite song:

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost but now I’m found

Was blind but now I see!

My prayer for all of us is Psalm 74: 11-12. Lord- “Don’t hold back! Unleash your might and give them a final blow. You have always been, and always will be, my King.”