Day Four "Repair Shop"

“He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” [Ps. 23:3]

I went to visit a friend today and he asked me for some help with an errand. Over the course of the Memorial Day weekend some guests broke a four- wheeler and a go-cart. When I first saw them they both looked in pretty good condition. I saw a green four-wheeler and a blue go-cart. Both looked fine from the outside. Neither of them functioned properly. They looked good on the outside, but on the inside they were broken.

I think that is the condition of many people in the church. People look good on the outside. They dress nice for church. They live in comfortable houses and work in respected jobs. They masquerade around the church and community like all is well but the truth is they are broken in their souls. They may look good on the outside, but something is broken on the inside.

Today God is looking at our souls on the inside. Are we broken? Are our souls thriving and vibrant, or are they broken and in need of repair? Both the four-wheeler and the go-cart had to be taken to the repair shop. The man who owns the shop is a master mechanic. His reputation precedes him. He is able to diagnose the problem and to repair things from boats, lawn mowers, ATV’s, and anything else. He understands the intricate components of a motor and how it should function properly.

In the same way God is the master repairman of our souls. He knows how they should function because He created us. He is able to diagnose the exact problem in our souls when we are alive on the outside but dead on the inside. He is able to restore our souls by turning them back to Him. He is able to recover the lost zeal and passion to serve Him. He refreshes us in His presence with a new love and devotion to Him. In essence, God is more than able to repair our souls. He can make the inside match the outside.

Not only does He offer restoration for our souls, He also gently leads us in paths of righteousness or justice. The word “leads” is like the gentle flowing of water in a stream carrying an object along. As we walk with the Lord and He restores our souls He also leads us into right behavior.

Too often we try to put on the right behavior without our souls having been restored. This never works. Righteous behavior should work itself out from within a restored and refreshed soul. Do you need to go to the repair shop? Is your soul refreshed? God is able to diagnose the problem and repair us in a way that is reviving. Take some time and allow Him to do that work of restoration in you today.

Steps to Revival

1. Take some time to sit before the Lord and allow Him to diagnose the true ailment of your soul? Do not move on until you discover what in you needs to be repaired.

2. Now that you know what needs to be repaired and restored, take it to the Lord and ask Him to repair your soul. This may prove to be a process more than an event. Let God take all the time He needs to renew and refresh you from the inside out.

3. What path of righteousness do you sense the Lord leading you to follow? What steps is He leading you to take today?

4. Sit still before the Lord and breathe in His presence. Feel the embers of your soul begin to glow again. Let the presence of the Lord envelope you and enjoy Him in these moments. Sit with Him awhile and listen to what He has to say to you.