Tag: restoration

You Are Not Forgotten

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“You Are Not Forgotten” by Kirk Hunt

 

Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

Isaiah 49:15 KJV

 

Among the swirling galaxies and streaming pulsars, He listens for a single voice. Legions of angels come and go, but He anticipates a single face. Among the billions of souls that fill the earth, God is especially concerned with you, by name and fingerprint.

 

With all that calls to God, He has reserved a part of Himself for a precious child. Despite all that swirls through the infinite, He has a special focus on a single soul. No matter what else is happening, you have priority with God.

 

It doesn’t matter that someone else disappointed you. The track record of some mere human has nothing to do with Him. You are at the center of His love. You are an ongoing concern to eyes that never sleep or slumber.

 

Perhaps you are tired. Maybe you are hurting. You could be confused.

 

God has time to give rest to your soul. He will stop to sooth your hurts. Patiently, He will answer your questions.

 

You are not forgotten. He listens for your voice. He will be especially delighted to see your face.

 

Think : God loves me. He loves me more than even I can know.

 

Pray: “Lord, I accept the rest and restoration of Your love.”

 

 

Copyright © July 2010, Kirk Hunt

A Subtle Difference

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“A Subtle Difference” by Kirk Hunt

 

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 8:1 KJV

 

It doesn’t sound like it, but conviction is a good thing. It serves a useful purpose in the life of seekers and believers. Conviction points out the errors in our lives.

 

It’s important to say this: Conviction is different from condemnation. Conviction can be defined as “convincing someone of an error.” Condemnation can be defined as “sentencing to punishment.”

 

Conviction seeks to stop you from stepping off a cliff. Condemnation seeks to shove you off a cliff. Conviction points to improvement, not imprisonment. It’s a subtle, but critical difference.

 

When the Holy Spirit convicts, there’s a yearning to make things right. In the long-run, we’re thankful for the experience. Despite the short-run discomfort.

 

Condemnation is an ugly declaration of penalty and separation. There is no effort to restore or repair in condemnation. All of the energy goes to punishment of the prisoner.

 

It’s a subtle but important difference. Conviction concerns itself with simple correction: Making it right. Condemnation cares only for the penalty phase.

 

God, our heavenly Father wants to restore us in loving fellowship. The enemy of your soul wants to accuse, then condemn.   Surely, you can see the difference.

 

Think : Conviction is the Holy Spirit pointing in a better direction.

 

Pray: “Lord, guide me away from my error and toward Your righteousness.”

 

 

Copyright © May 2010, Kirk Hunt

Testify

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“Testify” by Kirk Hunt

“Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

Mark 5:19-20 KJV

“You can’t fool me. That’s him. What are we going to do?”

Imagine the reception that the formerly possessed man received when he came home. His friends and family weren’t sure to embrace him, or flee the scene. Borrowed clothes and sane eyes couldn’t hide his helter-skelter past.

Once everyone decided he had changed, they wanted to know just one thing: How? What had changed a monster back into a man? Who or what had the power to recover a hopeless case?

With every eye on him, the recovered man told his story. “I met a man who reacted with power and compassion instead of fear and dread.” The audience reaction comes as no surprise.

As God’s men and women, we are witnesses to God’s grace. We are the lost souls and hopeless cases that only His power could save. We should tell the story more often.

Testify. They need to hear. You need to remember.

Think: I am a living witness to God’s power. I should be quick to testify.

Pray: “Lord, help me to tell the story of how you changed my life.”

Copyright © March 2010, Kirk Hunt

The Torn Veil

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The Torn Veil by Kirk Hunt

And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.   And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.

Mark 15:37-38 KJV

In my heart and spirit I walk through the Temple. At the threshold to the Holy of Holies I pause. Only the High Priest should pass the Veil.

Once a year the High Priest would pass the Veil and offer a sacrifice for the nation. And he would do so, trembling. A sinful heart before the Mercy Seat would bring God’s judgment, not forgiveness.

The Veil, the barrier between sinful men and Holy God, has been torn. The ragged tear is evidence of Jesus’ sacrifice. He has made access to God free and clear.

I come before the Mercy Seat, trembling. Because Jesus’ Blood is on the Mercy Seat, I am free to stand before the Throne. I am grateful for the privilege to approach God freely. I am joyous that access to His Presence is not only open, but encouraged. I am humbled by the sacrifice that allows me this unequaled freedom.

In His Presence I am free. Free to talk, face-to-Shekinah, with God. I worship my Holy God. I commune with my Heavenly Father. I reach out and touch Him, knowing that with the Veil torn, His response is love, not judgment.

Think: I have access to God’s Throne.

Pray: “Lord, I thank You for free access to Your Throne and Presence.”

Copyright © February 2010, Kirk Hunt

Job’s Release

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“Job’s Release” by Kirk Hunt

And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

Job 42:10 KJV

Job’s losses started in chapter 1. At the beginning of chapter 42, Job remained penniless, diseased and grieving his lost sons and daughters. Scripture aptly sums up these crushing and painful circumstances as “captivity.”

Job’s release or restoration didn’t start with care packages or emergency assistance. Job’s captivity ended when he followed God’s command to pray for the men before him. The wounded and devastated became whole and prosperous when he ministered to, and for, others.

Job’s journey through the dark and loss ended in the light of prayer and service. The very men who should have interceded for Job needed him to intercede for them. In the moment he blessed others, Job’s cell door fell out and his chains fell off.

Perhaps you’re journeying through a tough place. The solution to your circumstance may surprise you. It may lay in your blessing and benefiting others.

Job’s release represents the times and places where you bless and minister despite your own lack and hurt. Job ended chapter 42 playing with his grandson’s grandsons and granting endowments. All because he prayed and ministered for others.

You are called to bless and benefit others. What do you have to lose by being obedient? Perhaps, your captivity.

Think: God’s grace flows through your obedience, not your circumstances.

Pray: “Lord, I am willing to be an instrument of grace, despite my own situation.”

Copyright © February 2010, Kirk Hunt

Your Year of Release

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“Your Year of Release” by Kirk Hunt

And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee. And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty:

Deuteronomy 15:12-13 KJV

Perhaps you made some mistakes. Maybe your start in life was less than ideal. Keep right on working for Him. Your circumstances will be transformed by His Grace.

During the sabbatical year, debts are forgiven. At the year of rest, freedom is restored to the captive. The weariest soul receives rest and restoration during the year of freedom.

God is a God of second chances. He knows that men and women often need to start again. For ancient Israel, freedom came in the form of the sabbatical year.

For us, redemption comes through the Cross and the blood of Christ. He died so you could go free. Even now, He is your advocate in heaven.

God knows our hearts and minds need rest. He sees our unspoken needs and hidden desires. Sooner, or later, He always rewards the faithful.

His freedom is more than release from bondage. He will load you down with benefits and blessings. You will walk, free and full, into a new life and opportunity.

He has commanded your freedom. Your blessings and benefits have been reserved for you. Get ready for your year of release.

Think: God will give me a second chance and a season of restoration.

Pray: “Lord, in faith, I receive Your freedom and restoration.”

Copyright © January 2010, Kirk Hunt