I have a friend who has been blessed with the gift of Hospitality and the talent for restoring old furniture to create a beautiful space. She will clean it, tighten up any loose screws, sand it down and repaint it to her liking. She can walk into a thrift store and find items that one would normally overlook due to their outdated appearance and imagine their restored glory. This gift resonates in every part of her life, from her home and her five adopted children to her business and ministry. A few years ago, her husband had an affair with another woman, completely shattering their marriage of over 20 years. My friend found herself alone, bitter, depressed, and questioning God. After some healing time of what she called “a horrific seasonâ€�, God began to restore her heart and renew her spirit until she found her joy again. She once again uses her gifts to refresh worn down souls and her light shines brighter today because she allowed God to restore her from the inside out. 

You see, God is in the restoration business. Not only does God restore us, but He also breathes new life into us â€" making us brand new! He renews the joy that was lost, gives us a new hope for the time we felt was wasted, and a new perspective for a new life in Him. God is not looking to restore us back to the way we were, He is looking to make us better; to make us like Him! Let today be a turning point for you; allow God to make the necessary changes in your life â€" to restore you to His glory.

Dear Lord, thank you for coming to this world to fix what was broken. Today, I invite you to come into my heart to heal the hurts and mend the worn-out places of my life. Make me whole and make me new. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

1.    1 Peter 5:10 (NIV).

Today’s Encounter was written by: Veronica B.