Restoration

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. . . . He restores my soul. —Psalm 23:1, 3 ESV

The restoration of our souls is a ministry of our Great Shepherd. The Hebrew word translated “restore” in Psalm 23 is a word that’s more often translated “return” in the Old Testament. It’s used to speak of God’s people returning to Him and of God returning to His people. The implication is that He restores our souls back to their original resting place—in Him.

“He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters” (Psalm 23:2 esv). Notice that the sheep don’t get fed, refreshed, and restored on the run. They must be willing to slow down, to stop at times, to be still, to lie down.

Often I find myself giving out but not taking time to get back to the still, quiet waters where my Shepherd wants to restore my soul. It’s in those daily devotional times alone with Him that He calms my spirit, slows down my racing pulse, and gives me fresh perspective and renewed desire and strength to serve Him another day.

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A Place of Quiet Rest: Finding Intimacy with God through a Daily Devotional Life ©2000 Nancy Leigh DeMoss

Scripture taken from The ESV