Weekly Prayer Focus for the week of September 14, 2008

[TWUDCF, Inc. Online Prayer Ministry]

Bishop-Elect T. Anthony Bronner, Senior Pastor
September 14, 2008 – September 20, 2008

PRAYER FOCUS

Restoration

There it was, a headline in USA Today, “Kobe is King”. As with Cher or
Oprah, there’s no need for a last name. Kobe Bryant, the NBA star and
arguably the best basketball player in the world, is king of the XXIX
Olympiad. The Chinese think he’s the greatest, no comparison.

A 29 year-old Chinese nurse said, “I love Yao Ming and Kobe, but I
love Kobe more” (USA Today, 8/21/08). It seems that Kobe’s shameful
and incriminating history of five years ago is no longer holding him
hostage. It appears that his fans have forgotten that he confessed to
having an affair and was accused of rape. He has rebounded. He’s been
restored. His image has been rehabilitated, and he is now an
international ambassador for the NBA.

Did you see that? He went from ashamed to ambassador. Is that not
shocking? Or should we say, amazing? Amazing – that’s what it’s like
for those of us who are recipients of God’s grace. God is aware of our
history, yet he decided to use us as ambassadors of reconciliation. In
fact, we were not charged for our sins like Kobe. Instead, God laid
our iniquities on Jesus Christ, and He bore our sins and carried our
sorrows (see Isaiah 53). In Christ we are fully restored and
therefore able to rebound.

The intriguing thing about restoration is that it technically means to
bring something back to its original existence or value. Sometimes
however, restoration actually increases the value of something.
Restored model cars are often of greater value than when initially
manufactured; and Kobe, for instance, now has greater earning
potential than he did before his fall from grace. This is how it is
with God.

When God restores God says, in essence, I still see value in you. I
see how you can still be of use. Then God actually makes us better
than we were before. This truth is evident throughout biblical
history. Although David fell into willful immorality, God restored
unto him the joy of salvation (Psalm 51). Can you imagine salvation
without joy?

The honest truth is that fallen believers feel devalued and lack joy.
Conversely, when God restores, God reestablishes purpose and
happiness. God does not want the recovered to live with guilt or shame
in any form or fashion. “If we confess our sins, God is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (I
John 1:9). So, in actuality God’s restoration is the gift of being
revalued.

There will always be folk who will not, or cannot, forget about our
past. “There are some lingering negative feelings towards Kobe among
U.S. fans” (USA Today, 8/21/08). In response to that sentiment, one of
Kobe’s teammates said, “We’re not back in the U.S. right now. We’re in
China. He can leave that back in the U.S.”

It would be wise for us to adopt a similar sentiment. We must allow
others their right to feel or think what they will of our past. But we
must also welcome and receive the restoration of God. Don’t live in
your past. Live in your restored today and look to your future!

PRAYER

Lord, because you are loving and kind, we ask that you have mercy upon
us; and as you have so very many times before, tenderly and mercifully
erase our wrongdoing. Totally wash away our iniquities that we may be
clean from sin.

We admit our wrong, and we are constantly troubled by it. God we have
wronged you and only you. We acknowledge that what you’ve said is
right and we are deserving of your judgment. We were sinners from the
very beginning, even from conception. But you have always wanted
honesty from us and have taught us wisdom since we were in the womb.

If you purify us we will be clean. If you wash us we will be whiter
than snow. Please give us back our joy. You have already broken us.
Now let us rejoice. Don’t look at our sinful ways any longer. Erase
our misdeeds.

O God, give us brand new hearts with righteous spirits. Please don’t
leave us, and do not force us to leave you. Instead, restore and
uphold us. Give us once again the joy that originally accompanied your
salvation. Then we will be agents of reconciliation who teach others
to follow you.

O God of our salvation, if you forgive us for shedding the blood of
others we will loudly (and proudly) sing of your goodness. Open our
mouths and we will praise you. We would offer sacrifices to you if we
thought you wanted them. But we know that they are only sacrifices,
you will receive our broken spirits. The only gifts we have to offer
that you will not hate are broken and contrite hearts.

Show favor to your people and help us to reestablish the boundaries of
our faith. Then you will be pleased with the gifts we righteously
bring to you. Then will we be able to approach your altar. (Psalm 51,
paraphrased).

In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Copyright 2008. TWUDCF,Inc. All Rights Reserved.