I read a very thought provoking statement the other day:

“God’s power to restore is stronger than Satan’s power to destroy.”

 Hmmm…this got the wheels to turning in my head.  I started plugging in all of the problems of my life into that statement.  I thought about some of my relationships that have turned from love to indifference.  I thought of my own child, who has fallen by the wayside, and lives a life not pleasing to God.  I thought of the things that hover over me daily, that try to weaken my faith.  I thought of my family, that is not in church.  I thought of how some people enjoy being critical & judgmental.  I thought about all the material things others have, that I don’t.  Goodness gracious!  It didn’t take me long to really get a list going & to think “what in the world do I have to be happy about?”  Well, let me just tell you.  I am fortunate & blessed to have Jesus in my life. 

I John 4:4 says Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.

That means Who I have in my heart is bigger & better than anything in the world!  I then thought about my children who are in church.  I thought about those family members, who are a Godly bunch .  I thought about how there are things & people in life that I cannot, and would not want to, control.  However, I have an avenue of prayer to bring all of that to the Lord.  I thought about how even when those around me are rude or mean, I have the power to not imitate the same behavior.  I thought of the wonderful church family I have & how they share my journey with Christ.  I thought about how life is unfair, but God’s not. I thought about how I pray for my son each & every day that goes by & I believe, with all my heart, God has a plan for him.  I thought about how I am surrounded by good people who really care about me.  I thought of how no matter what comes my way, my God is able to restore anything back better than it was in the beginning. 

Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

Ephesians 3:21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

I also considered King Solomon.  He had all the riches the Earth could give him.  He turned from God, trying to chase his own rabbit, to find happiness.  He involved himself in the lusts of the world.  At one time he had 300 concubines, 700 wives & princesses, & he turned his heart to other gods.  From the world’s view, it might have seemed like he was living the life.  But, his morals went to pot pretty quick.  Without God, he found contentment for a season, but ended up with emptiness inside.  The wisest man of his time, ended up giving this advice about how to really live life:

^{Ecclesiastes 12:13} Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:                                                      Fear God and keep His commandments,
For this is man’s all.
¹⁴ For God will bring every work into judgment,
Including every secret thing,
Whether good or evil.

And you cannot even think about a life being changed & restored without mentioning Job.  His latter days were better than the beginning (after he went through some really hard times in his life).

Job 42:12 Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. ¹³ He also had seven sons and three daughters. ¹⁴ And he called the name of the first Jemimah, the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-Happuch. ¹⁵ In all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers.

God even made Job’s daughters beautiful.  What a wonderful God is that?  Nobody wants ugly kids!  He just slipped that right in there.  That was just icing on the cake.

So, today I ask you, do you dwell on Satan’s power to destroy, much more that the Lord’s power to restore?  It’s so easy to do.  But know that the Lord has plans for our lives that are bigger than anything we can ask or think.  We just have to live by His word & leave Him to do his job.  That’s my problem sometimes.  I try to take on worries & troubles that aren’t mine in the first place.  I get tired of the struggles & troubles of life & want to give in to something easier.  However, my job is to have faith & believe God will take care of it all.  When I do that, I begin to experience the peace & love God promises.  And that feeling is really good.  Like sweet tea & fried chicken good.

Thank you for coming by to spend some time with me.  I enjoy our visits together!  Just know & believe that better things are coming.  We are all going to have trials & heartache.  Isn’t it better to have trials & heartache with Jesus?  I hope you have a wonderful day.  As for me, I have to be going because I should be washing clothes.