Hope Restored
(5 minutes)
The mighty Spirit of the Lord Yahweh is wrapped around me because Yahweh has anointed me, as a messenger to preach good news to the poor. He sent me to heal the wounds of the brokenhearted...(Isaiah 61:1)
When the wounded hearts are healed, and the captives are set free, when we trade our ashes for His beauty, and our tears for His joy, and our heaviness for His praise, we then become Mighty Oaks of Righteousness, planted by Yahweh, to restore ruined cities. We are planted by Yahweh in devastated places to bring restoration and healing. What has been leveled by generations of brokenness, we will build up again, because of the deep healing that has happened in our own lives. As our inner world is transformed by His goodness, He plants us in dark places so we can shine His radiant light and see cities transformed.
"Imagine not having to strive to see things changed, you just being there sees things changed. That's what we're designed to be." (Pastor Tim)
What keeps us from being excited about this thing that Yahweh is doing in us? What causes us to read Isaiah 61, and respond with a "well, that would be nice...but" deep down in our heart? Why can't we see ourselves being completely healed, planted by Yahweh, bringing restoration and healing to desolated cities? Why can't we receive it for ourselves?
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life. (Proverbs 13:12)
"When hopelessness has taken root, you can't even dream anymore. Let me ask you a question: when did you stop telling yourself the same things you tell little children? You can be or do whatever you want to do. Do you know why you stopped? Hopelessness. Hopelessness causes you to stop dreaming dreams." (Pastor Tim)
This scripture in Proverbs tells us that without hope, we stop having desires and passions. Without hope, we can't see ourselves being Mighty Oaks of Righteousness, planted by Yahweh, bringing restoration to devastated places. We can't see ourselves doing or being anything, because hope is what causes us to see with expectation and dream. And hopelessness kills all desire in us.
This is a practical way to gauge hope in your life: what impossible things are you asking Abba for? Do you have any expectations at all? Not from a place of desperation, but from a place of dreaming. From a place of allowing the passions that Abba has put inside you to be stirred.
Do you want to know one of the first witnesses to a heart being healed? Hope restored. Dreams restored. Passions restored. When we allow our hearts to be made whole, we start to hope again.
Beloved One, hopelessness may have set in and made your heart sick, but Abba is healing your heart and bringing desire and passion back to you. It will be a tree of life! And Abba will turn around and plant you as a tree of life in the city. You will restore ruins from long ago. You will rebuild what was long devastated. You will renew ruined cities. You will renew the desolations of past generations. Yes, you will.
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Worship: "I Lose My Ability" by Jonathan David & Melissa Helser
Honor: Give Online to The Wilderness Place
Share With Us: We would love to hear how you're encountering Abba in your daily walks. Don't hesitate to share what you're hearing, seeing, or sensing in His presence. Email us here!
