Praise Him in Advance

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“Praise Him in Advance.”
By Stacey Shaw

God has a soft spot for the broken, lost, and bound. They are the reason He came. Jesus spoke to this in Luke 15 in the parable of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. The lost sheep was important enough for the shepherd to leave the ones that were safe. Although the coin was lost in the house and was unaware it was lost, it still had value and needed to be found. Finally, the prodigal who willfully got lost, knew he had to get home and was warmly received by his father. Time and again we have witnessed His great love as He reaches for and restores the fallen.

God is in the restoration business. Restoration, by definition, means to return to one’s former condition and standing in God. Jesus embraced his role of restorer when He applied Isaiah’s prophecy to Himself: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed” (Luke 4:18, ESV). This “recovering of sight” Jesus is speaking of is giving back spiritual and physical sight to those who have lost their sight. Peter wrote, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (II Peter 3:9, ESV). This includes those who have lost their way.

Therefore, the church must be in the restoration business as well! Most know someone who needs to be restored. It is time faith arises in our prayers and that we, “look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen” (II Corinthians 4:18). Can you see through eyes of faith? Can you see your lost children, friends, neighbors, and loved ones in the altars? We must continue reaching and never give up, remembering, “Such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus” (I Corinthians 6:11, ESV).

( Information from: Ladies prayer International Newsletter – UPCI Ladies Ministries – ladiesprayerinternational-aol.com@shared1.ccsend.com )