Restore Yourself

​Do you remember my disappointment in Leonardo de Vinci’s painting of the Last Supper?

It was completely dilapidated.

The entire wall of the church, on which the masterpiece was painted, was covered with scaffolding as many worked to restore it.

Masterpieces need to be restored.

Restore means to:

• bring back into existence, use, or the like; reestablish
• bring back to a former, original, or normal condition
• bring back to a state of health, soundness, or vigor

How does that sound to you? 

I like the idea of being brought back to a “normal” condition!

Having health, soundness, and vigor are inviting too.

Momma, you are a masterpiece.

Self-care is simply actions to restore yourself.

What does it take to restore a masterpiece?

One site* put it like this:
1st: Clean It - remove the dust and dirt
2nd: Repair It - repair tears in the canvas and fix cracked or peeling paint
3rd: Re-varnish It - re-varnish the painting

This week, we’ll focus on the first part: Clean It - remove the dust and the dirt.

The first thing I think of is a shower. I love getting clean! 

Yet perhaps you have deeper dirt that needs to be addressed. 

How do you clean yourself?

It is written: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 NKJV – emphasis mine)

Where are you with God? Have you come to Him to cleanse you?

Here are reminders of key truths in your journey with Him:

1. Truth about God: He made you! You owe your existence to Him. You were made to be with, worship and serve Him. (Gen 1:27; John 1:3; Rev 4:11)
   
2. Truth about sin: The bad news is that you rebelled. You decided to live your life to please yourself, not God (We all do this! I do too. It’s why we/I need Him!). This rebellion is called sin and it separates you from Him. The wages of sin is death. You need to be reconciled with Him. (Rom 3:10-12, 23; Rom 6:23)
3. Truth about Jesus Christ: Good news! God provided a way out. Jesus, God born into human skin – perfect – died in your place taking the punishment you deserve for your sin: separation from God. (Matt 1:21; Rom 5:8; Heb 4:15) Yet that’s not the end! Jesus rose from the dead, proving He is God. He conquered sin, Satan, and death. Faith in His work, not your own, is how you are saved. (Matt 28:6; 1 Cor 15:3-8; Eph 2:8-9)
4. Your response: Faith, repentance, and transformation. Believe in Jesus, repent of your sin, and choose to live for Him. (John 1:12-13; John 20:31; Rom 10:9-10, 13) 

To Jesus you can bring all of your faults, all of your sins.

When you repent and believe, you are cleansed from your dirt. (I John 1:9)

Based on these truths about God, sin, and Jesus Christ, what is your relationship with God today? 

Have you responded to Him? Will you now? 

If you have, are you spending time with Him? Do you continue to repent and return to Him?

Jesus is the only one who can cleanse you, removing all of your dust and dirt.

He is your first step in restoring yourself.

Ask Jesus to cleanse you today.

* This link, originally viewed in 2013, is as follows, yet is now no longer available: http://www.ehow.com/how_2122124_restore-painting.html​

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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
All Scripture references, unless otherwise indicated, are from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide

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