52 Days. Day 43, Restoration.

Nehemiah 5:11 (NLT) “You must restore their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and homes to them this very day. And repay the interest you charged when you lent them money, grain, new wine, and olive oil.” What is amazing about this moment of building the wall is that we soon realize that it is about a lot more than building a literal wall. It’s been obvious to Nehemiah since the start that more was going on than moving stones back into place. And now, what has really been needing to happen is happening: restoration. Families that had become just as broken and burnt as the wall, are now being restored; alongside the wall. But it is important to note how they got to this place. They put the kingdom first. They all had to set aside their personal wants and needs to focus on the desperate need of the kingdom. And this action of faith to wait on their personal wants and needs to focus on the kingdom needs, leads them to what they really needed and wanted all along: restoration. This is the reason why our Lord tells us in Matthew 6:33 (KJV) “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” We won’t get what we really want and need by putting ourselves first. It never works out that way. But when we put the kingdom of God first, it leads us to a place to receive what we wanted and needed the most! Focus your energies today on shifting your mindset to being more kingdom focused and less self-focused.