Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Ruins to Redemption

“They are constantly in my thoughts.  I cannot stop thinking about Your mighty works.  Oh God, Your ways are holy.  Is there any god as mighty as You? You are the God of great wonders!  You demonstrate Your awesome power among the nations.”  Psalm 77:12-14

Oh Lord God, You are constantly in our thoughts!  Your mighty works are constantly on our mind.  Your ways are holy and there is none as mighty as You.  This past weekend at the Deeper Still Retreat, You demonstrated once again Your awesome power.  You amaze us.  You are the God of great wonders.  We praise Your name.  Amen.
 
In the book of Nehemiah, we find that Jerusalem had been lying is waste for about 150 years.  That is a long time and no doubt the Israelites had almost given up on rebuilding.  I know from personal experience that when something has been in ruins for a long period of time, the task of rebuilding can seem daunting.
 
Perhaps, they adapted to seeing the bricks lying around and didn’t think much of it after a while.  After all, it is just the way it has always been.
 
Many of the participants that come to the Deeper Still Retreats might be able to relate to these Israelites.   From years of having the enemy beating them down, the task of rebuilding might seem overwhelming.
 
However, the city walls of Jerusalem that had laid in ruins for 150 YEARS, were rebuilt in only 52 DAYS!  When God decides it is time to rebuild, it doesn’t have to take a long time.  God is never overwhelmed with our mess.
 
At the Deeper Still retreats, participants come with 20, 30, 40, 50 plus years of living in ruin. I am continually amazed at the transformation from ruins to redemption that basically takes place in a little over 24 hours!  And He did it again this past weekend (of course He did!)
 
Will you praise the Lord with us today as we celebrate His glory and redemption in the lives of His sons and daughters who were restored and rebuilt this past weekend!!  Oh Lord, You are indeed a God of great wonders!  We praise Your Name!




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