Blessings Friends!
HaShem’s will be done.
As Yom Kippur came to a close, I was reminded yet again that God’s ways are not my ways.
The Days of Awe are a time of self examination, of seeking the forgiveness of those you have hurt, and deep repentance before The Lord. Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement and our rehearsal for the Great White Throne Judgment, is a fast day for most Jews. But, instead of fasting for 24 hours this year, I decided to offer the eight days following Rosh Hashanah to The Lord as I pressed in to Him for our nation and all those who do not yet know His love. Eight is the number of new beginnings and over-abundance. And we desperately need a new beginning and an over-abundance of The Holy Spirit.
For many prophets, Rosh Hashanah is a time of great revelation and Heavenly visitation, and I was really pressing in for a message for you. At the beginning of the High Holy Days I received a dream in which I was given a command from The Lord as His steward. Unfortunately, I failed to get details on the meaning of this enormous task, but I was sure He would reveal all in the coming days of my fast… He did not. But, I must say, in the dream I was fully convinced of His ability to bring it to pass.
Early Yom Kippur morning I descended the steps from my prayer room feeling a bit down. Morning after morning, I had climbed the stairs to seek a word for you from The Lord. And morning after morning, I had climbed back down with nothing. I’ll be honest, I began to wonder if I was doing something wrong. Still, I continued in my worship and seeking. My God is faithful.
Then just before sundown on Yom Kippur, as I stood at the sink peeling carrots for our “breaking the fast feast,” praising God for the smell of roasting turkey, I heard The Lord’s still, small voice.
“I will restore all in this season.”
Immediately, He reminded me that this is the year of Jubilee, and that is what His Jubilee is all about. Restoration.
“But if he is not able to have it restored to himself, then what was sold shall remain in the hand of him who bought it until the Year of Jubilee; and in the Jubilee it shall be released, and he shall return to his possession.” Lev. 25:28
Before I could begin to contemplate the magnitude of His words, The Lord brought to my mind all the things the enemy has stolen from me—and all I have willingly given him: my children, finances, health… It really took some time to digest what He was showing me.
My first reaction was, “But I haven’t been praying for myself. I’ve been praying for the lost.” His reply to that came the following morning:
“And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.” Job 42:10
Wow! Blessed be the Name of The Lord!
Once I was able to receive that word for myself. I realized that it wasn’t just for me. This is also the word I have been seeking for you!
That morning I went to The Word and found 111 references to the word “restore.” It’s interesting to note that the number 1 denotes unity and primacy. This is God. The number 1 in a sequence of three (divine perfection) shows the three attributes of God: omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence, as well as the Holy Trinity. Our God is The God of restoration.
As I studied, I found references to each of the “stolen items” The Lord had brought to my mind…and more. I’m claiming them all, of course. He did say, “All.” Care to join me?
Employment:
“Then he restored the chief butler to his butlership again, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.” Gen. 40:21
Finances:
“Then Joseph gave a command to fill their sacks with grain, to restore every man’s money to his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. Thus he did for them.” Gen. 42:25
Health:
“And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean.” 2 Kings 5:10
“For I will restore health to you And heal you of your wounds,’ says the Lord, ‘Because they called you an outcast saying: “This is Zion; No one seeks her.”’ Jeremiah 30:17
Personal Property:
“And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed a certain officer for her, saying, ‘Restore all that was hers, and all the proceeds of the field from the day that she left the land until now.’” 2 Kings 8:6
Backsliders:
“I have seen his ways, and will heal him; I will also lead him, And restore comforts to him And to his mourners.” Isaiah 57:18
Wasted Years:
“So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, The crawling locust, The consuming locust, And the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you.” Joel 2:25
Life:
“Then Elisha spoke to the woman whose son he had restored to life, saying, “Arise and go, you and your household, and stay wherever you can; for the Lord has called for a famine, and furthermore, it will come upon the land for seven years.” 2 Kings 8:1
Our Cities:
“Then the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; and Israel recovered its territory from the hands of the Philistines.” 1 Sam. 7:14
The Church:
“So the workmen labored, and the work was completed by them; they restored the house of God to its original condition and reinforced it.” 2 Chron. 24:13
Walls of Protection:
“Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be closed…” Nehemiah 4:7
Provision, The Word, The Holy Spirit—The Kingdom:
“Restore now to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also a hundredth of the money and the grain, the new wine and the oil, that you have charged them.” Nehemiah 5:11
Strength:
“Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other.” Matthew 12:13
Righteousness:
“He shall pray to God, and He will delight in him, He shall see His face with joy, For He restores to man His righteousness.” Job 33:26
Our Souls:
“He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.” Psalm 23:3
Our Spirits:
“Restore us, O God; Cause Your face to shine, And we shall be saved!” Psalm 80:3
Prophecy:
“I will restore your judges as at the first, And your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city.” Isaiah 1:26
Apostles:
“Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.” Isaiah 58:12
Heavenly Language:
“For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, That they all may call on the name of the Lord, To serve Him with one accord.” Zephaniah 3:9
Spiritual Vision:
“Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly.” Mark 8:25
The Shofar has sounded! The call has gone out:
“Return to the stronghold, You prisoners of hope. Even today I declare That I will restore double to you.” Zechariah 9:12
Will you answer the call?
“Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.” Psalm 100
“Turn us back to You, O Lord, and we will be restored; Renew our days as of old.” Lamentations 5:21
Amen! And, Amen!
God’s grace and peace be with you!
Rebecca
