Restore is my word for the year. I have many things to be grateful for, however there are many things that need restored. Some relationships, health issues, forgiving others and yourself. For some it is possible to turn back time and restore your health and relationships. Many are not that fortunate.
I spent much of my lifetime watching family members suffer with Type II Diabetes and about 7 years ago I was diagnosed with this disease. Now mind you, this happened because of my gluttony and love of food, basically sin. I was eating too much and not exercising, I was somewhat depressed and it was a vicious circle. I was sitting behind a desk and too tired after 9 hour days to come home and get in a workout.
I did my annual blood draw and when my doctor saw my weight and the results, she told me we needed to go after these problems aggressively. My A1C was at 8.9 and normal is 5.7! Not to mention cholesterol and triglycerides and blood pressure were over their limits by a long way. I was a ticking time bomb. I weighed in at the most ever. I HAD TO DO SOMETHING OR I WAS GOING TO DIE!
Today is a whole different story. A1C is 5.8 and my numbers are as low as when I was a teenager. My weight is 135lbs, which is normal for me, and my doctor is very proud of me for doing what she told me to do. I'm no longer Diabetic!
My word for this year brings me to Isaiah 38. It's about Hezekiah and the sickness God put on him. You see, God warned him. God warned me too in a very subtle way. Here is Hezekiah's story.
Hezekiah’s Sickness and Recovery
1 About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to visit him. He gave the king this message: “This is what the LORD says: ‘Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.’”
2 When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD,
3 “Remember, O LORD, how I have always been faithful to you and have served you single-mindedly, always doing what pleases you.” Then he broke down and wept bitterly.
4 Then this message came to Isaiah from the LORD:
5 “Go back to Hezekiah and tell him, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will add fifteen years to your life,
6 and I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. Yes, I will defend this city.
7 “And this is the sign from the LORD to prove that he will do as he promised:
8 I will cause the sun’s shadow to move ten steps backward on the sun dial of Ahaz!’” So the shadow on the sundial moved backward ten steps.
Hezekiah’s Poem of Praise
9 When King Hezekiah was well again, he wrote this poem:
10 I said, “In the prime of my life,
must I now enter the place of the dead?
Am I to be robbed of the rest of my years?”
11 I said, “Never again will I see the LORD God
while still in the land of the living.
Never again will I see my friends
or be with those who live in this world.
12 My life has been blown away
like a shepherd’s tent in a storm.
It has been cut short,
as when a weaver cuts cloth from a loom.
Suddenly, my life was over.
13 I waited patiently all night,
but I was torn apart as though by lions.
Suddenly, my life was over.
14 Delirious, I chattered like a swallow or a crane,
and then I moaned like a mourning dove.
My eyes grew tired of looking to heaven for help.
I am in trouble, Lord. Help me!”
15 But what could I say?
For he himself sent this sickness.
Now I will walk humbly throughout my years
because of this anguish I have felt.
16 Lord, your discipline is good,
for it leads to life and health.
You restore my health
and allow me to live!
17 Yes, this anguish was good for me,
for you have rescued me from death
and forgiven all my sins.
18 For the dead cannot praise you;
they cannot raise their voices in praise.
Those who go down to the grave
can no longer hope in your faithfulness.
19 Only the living can praise you as I do today.
Each generation tells of your faithfulness to the next.
20 Think of it—the LORD is ready to heal me!
I will sing his praises with instruments
every day of my life
in the Temple of the LORD.
21 Isaiah had said to Hezekiah’s servants, “Make an ointment from figs and spread it over the boil, and Hezekiah will recover.” (Did Hezekiah have Sepsis?)
22 And Hezekiah had asked, “What sign will prove that I will go to the Temple of the LORD?”
Cont.
Do you listen for the Lord's warnings? I spent many years not hearing the Lord, today I find quiet time for prayer and reading His Word every morning and listening for His Voice. I spend 2 hours in the morning, I get up at 5:00 am and study and read until 7:00 am. I dedicated this time to the relationship I want with the Lord. Like any relationship, you have to work at it.
I literally also prayed for my health many times just like Hezekiah and I felt that no one was listening, then one day I heard Him. You see I spent many years doing everything I shouldn't have been, eating and partying. Once I started cleaning up my bad habits and repented my sins, I could hear Him.
I feel like God Restored me in many ways this past year and this year I will be reflecting on that restoration and continuing my journey. There is more that needs fixing but I will get to that this year. I will be getting back to my artwork very soon, but it will be different than anything you have seen from me. I used to paint. Oil, Acrylics and Watercolor. This will be my next restoration.
Never hesitate to reach out to the Lord, He is always listening and ready to help. It may not be in the manner you want but you will learn important lessons along the way! In the end, you will understand His Wisdom. The best restoration was my relationship with the Lord, I feel His spirit in my heart and the journey he has taken me on in this life is one I wouldn't trade for anything.
No comments:
Post a Comment