[I’ll refresh tired bodies; I’ll restore tired souls. Jeremiah 31:25]
The word restore is in the bible 36 times.
In Galatians 6:1-3 it says:
[Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself.
You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed.
Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.]
In the time we are in with the post election there has been too many words said and too much hurt done to those we should be helping.
I have experienced it myself and was disappointed in some behavior that I heard and saw. We must save our critical words.
As my grandson said tonight, who is age 6, “when my brother tries to rat on me I just say, zip it up.”
Moving his hand is a zipped motion across his lips.
Adults can learn the same thing.
The time we are living in has caused more friction, more hatred, more conflict than I can ever remember.
We must restore our friendships with family and friends.
The election is over. Get over it. We have a President who was voted in and whether you like it or not.
HE is in to stay for four years. Pray for him. That would be a great start.
In the book of Titus it says:
[It wasn’t so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, dupes of sin, ordered every which way by our glands,  going around with a chip on our shoulder, hated and hating back. But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, he saved us from all that.
It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit.
Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously.
God’s gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives.
And there’s more life to come—an eternity of life! You can count on this.]
I love it when it said ‘we had nothing to do with it’, like spoiled children wanting our own ways but God makes the effort to change us from the inside out, for that is where our heart is and that is where change begins.
The word refresh is in the bible 21 times.
[Reliable friends who do what they say are like cool drinks in sweltering heat—refreshing! Proverbs 25:13]
[He’s giving you a teacher to train you how to live right — Teaching, like rain out of heaven, showers of words to refresh and nourish your soul, just as he used to do. Joel 2:23]
I love to search out words and find the many ways the bible uses them for us to cling to.
It is healing to know there is so much evidence of God’s love for us and his determination to not leave us in a sad and empty place emotionally.
It is a promise. We do not walk this life alone. He is a guide and hope.