Restoration

He restores my soul. Psalm 23:3

restore
verb
1.	return to its original or usable and functioning condition;
2.	return to life; get or give new life or energy;
3.	give or bring back;
4.	restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken;
5.	bring back into original existence, use, function, or position.

My soul is in daily need of restoration. This is a continual process with me - not a one time event as I once thought. "Bang! - I am restored - now go forth and live abundantly". Well it has not been like that with me. There have been seasons in my life where I have daily sought out his restoration in my soul and there have been seasons where I proceeded for many months (sadly sometimes even years) without seeking this continual restoration in my life.

Even now in a "good" season I often neglect my soul. I allow life's distractions to shift my focus to the temporal — fretting over my son's bad grades when I should be on my knees praying for his relationship with Jesus. I seek relief from discomfort or pain in temporary "non-soul nourishing" fixes — a very large bag of licorice or a shopping trip or planning a vacation. I focus on my selfish agenda of what I want and how I want it — expending much emotional energy on attempting to control the events in my life. All of these neglect my soul and pull me away from my complete purpose in Christ.

God's faithfulness is an amazing thing. Christ will return me to a "usable or functioning condition" and give me "new life or energy". This is available to me! Despite my neglect - He has the power and the desire to restore me. I just need to be willing to receive it.

How do I receive His restoration? Devoted time with Him where I make a dedicated effort to be in His presence, physically removing myself from distractions of life (the computer, the dishes, the dogs). Not just out of duty but out of a desire to be brought back in connection to the "Power Source". My soul is restored by focusing on small passages of Scripture at a time - pondering and "chewing" it over in mind and personalizing it.

Lately my soul has been restored by taking what I call "prayer walks" down along the ocean. I put in my iPod and listen to praise music (Casting Crowns and Anthony Evans are my current inspiration) and I absorb the music and lyrics as I breathe in the clear air and walk among God's amazing creation. Even though there are many other people there and I have a dog on a leash, I listen and praise and confess and call out to Him for help. Sometimes I have to stop myself from raising my hands and singing out in praise.