Destination RESToration Refining and Replenishing

This is part seven of Destination RESToration. If you have not read the first six segments, I encourage you to do so before you move on to this section. Destination RESToration, DR Restored to Our Original Purpose, DR Preparing for Restoration, DR Restored Communion with God, DR Call the Carpenter. DR Remove, Rinse, & Rest.

Often, we seek the Lord. We have our quiet time. We spend time in God’s Word. Our hearts are in the right place. Maybe we have had a beautiful time of rest on vacation or a spiritual retreat. And then it hits. The spiritual attacks. That restored finish gets a little banged up. We begin to feel the weight of the burdens threaten to crush us. The enemy loves to beat us up, and his timing is uncanny.

But God’s Word tells us to not lose hope. That we are renewed day by day when we keep our eyes fixed on Him and not on the trials that tend to leave scars and dents in the polished surface of our hearts.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Because we are in a spiritual battle, there is always a need for renewal and restoration. In the restoration process, after demolition, after preparation, after removal of the debris, there is a refining process. There are still rough spots to be smoothed, slivers to be removed and polishing to be done. 

Our Master Builder is always busy at work refining our lives. He uses a variety of techniques to protect us, polish us, and bring our countenance to a beautiful shine that helps us to better reflect His Imago Dei once again.

Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend”.

Think of good friends as finishing sandpaper and part of the refining process. It’s good to have a friend that can say the tough stuff to us and hold us accountable, friends who can speak the truth in love. That friend can also pick us up when we fall. Friends must earn that place in someone’s life but they are essential to our spiritual refinement.

Too often, we are afraid of this part of restoration. We hold back the truth for fear of damaging a relationship or hurting one’s feelings. Honestly, when I have spinach stuck in my teeth, I expect my friends to tell me of the offending vegetable. It is the same with sin, struggles or obstacles I may be oblivious to in my life. I want my friends to call these things to my attention and help smooth the rough spots in my finish.

Trials, accountability, refining fire are all part of what builds and shapes us, refines us. No matter how much Krud Kutter, sand paper, or other refining tools, the trials and tribulations we have face may leave scars. Some scars can be smoothed away, but others leave an indelible mark. Those scars serve as reminders as to where we have been and how we have been restored. His scars are a reminder of the price He paid for our restoration. His finished work. 

After the removal and refining steps are done, occasionally we need to replenish, put on a new coat of paint, rub in some oil, or protect the masterpiece with a polyurethane finish. This is one step that may often need to be repeated. 

Depending on the type of wood, exposure to the elements, and use, it usually needs a treatment of oil on a regular basis. It refreshes the surface, protects the fiber and grains, and it can bring back the beauty of something that appears worn out and past its prime.

God is so good. He uses circumstances, friends, His Word, worship and rest to refine us. He smooths out our rough spots, puts us through the refining fire. But He does not stop there. He replenishes us. He anoints us with oil just when we are starting to feel dull and are losing the ability to see His reflection in our finish. He has sealed us with His Holy Spirit and covered us with his protective care.

There are around twenty scriptures regarding anointing with oil. The purpose ranges from the priests being set apart for sacred service to healing of the sick. One of the most well known Scripture of all times is Psalms 23. Verse five says, “He anoints my head with oil.” This anointing comes toward the end of the passage after the psalmist has walked through the valley of the shadow of death. It is a symbol of healing, refreshment, provision, and protection.

We are his finished masterpiece and he has covered us with his beauty for our protection and to help us reflect His image. 

How do you need restoration? Do you need a little touch up, or do you need to dig deep and get all of the crud out of the cracks and scars this world has left you with?

Reach out to a friend who can help polish and refine you.

Ask the Lord to help you get rid of the old junk and restore your soul and anoint your head with His oil.

Meditate on His word. Joshua 1:8

Listen through the Psalms. YouVersion Bible App for your phone

Let Scripture be the healing balm for your soul that you need. Psalm 103:1-6

Wait on the Lord. Isaiah 40:31

Depend on Him to finish His work in you. Philippians 1:6

Take a walk or look out your window and appreciate God’s creation. Job 12: 7-10

My prayer for you today is this:

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,  and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:17-21

There are as many restoration projects as there are people on this earth, and we have barely touched the surface. There are two more installations in this series: “Tools for Restoring Relationships” and “The Value of Restoration.” With God’s grace, I will have them here for you in the next couple of weeks.

Please feel free to share this post with someone who may benefit from it.