PATH TO RESTORATION

You can have a restoration of anything you have lost by resting on the PEACE that God has provided for us through Christ Jesus. We have the story of the Shunammite, a great woman of substance, whose son Prophet Elisha raised from the dead¹. You can take time to read that portion of scripture again before or after reading this post.

YOUR DESIRE IS IMPORTANT!

Faith and prayer works with our desire.

“Therefore I say unto you, What things soever you DESIRE, when you PRAY, BELIEVE that you receive them, and you shall have them.” (Mark 11:24).

Our desire does not only specify what we want; it is also our readiness to receive them from God. We must desire what God has promised. To begin with, this woman didn't desire a child. You can discern that from her own words to the Prophet.

"Then she said, Did I DESIRE a son of my lord? did I not say, Do not deceive me?" (2 Kings 4:28).

And her response to Elisha when he first gave her the prophecy of the birth of her son completely lacked faith.

"And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, you shall embrace a son. AND SHE SAID, NAY, MY LORD, YOU MAN OF GOD, DO NOT LIE UNTO THINE HANDMAID" (2 Kings 4:16).

This professed lack of desire, this lack of faith, opened the door to the devil to come in later to take her son. But by then the mother was now in love with her son. She had a strong desire now to get him back. She had come to the point of faith. She was now being moved by her faith. She was purposeful, calm and determined in her actions. She didn't SAY to any one that the boy was dead, not even her husband. She laid the dead body on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out to confront Elisha. She was bold about it.

SCRIPTURE RECOGNIZED HER FAITH!

From the authority of scripture we know that her action was by faith. This woman is one of the privileged heroes of faith to be referenced in the book of Hebrews.

"... THROUGH FAITH...Women received their dead raised to life AGAIN..." (Hebrews 11:33, 35).

FAITH HAS NO SPECIAL SEASON!

When the husband heard that she was going to meet the Prophet he asked; "Wherefore will you go to him today?" it is neither a new moon, nor sabbath."

Faith is now. It may not be new moon nor Sabbath. But there was a need. Faith does not observe special times and seasons. When there is a need, faith goes boldly to the throne of grace where the answer is waiting².

SET OUT WITH HOPE!

The woman answered her husband; "It SHALL be well." She answered with hope. When you set out for the throne of grace you should set out with hope in your heart. Before you pray you must have hope. You know that "It SHALL be well" when you get there.

"It SHALL be well if you pray."

FAITH TIME!

When she got to the Prophet he asked her; "Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child? And she answered, IT IS WELL" (2 Kings 4:26).

Once you get to the throne of grace, you are now before God. Hope must turn to faith.

"Now FAITH is the substance of things HOPED for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1).

Hope is now in the past tense. Faith has now taken over. It is time to receive what you have hoped for. Now "It IS well".

WHEN you pray, “It IS well.” AFTER you have prayed, "It IS well". Speak faith; stay in faith.

Men may know about your trouble. When they ask you about your trouble tell them; "It SHALL be well." If you have prayed about it, tell them, “It IS well.”

It is your HOPE that settles your FAITH because that is what you believed in your heart before you come to God. HOPE is the word or promise of God you believed in your heart before you prayed. It is your desire.

When you stand before God tell Him now that I am here I know that "It is well" because of your promise. This woman rested in the original word from Elisha to her. She got her son restored. 

It's time to remind God of His promise to you. It's time for restoration. 

The prayer of faith brings restoration.

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¹ 2 Kings 4:8-36

² Hebrews 4:16