Captive No More: Freedom From Pain, Shame and GuiltSmakprov

# Restoration > But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. > James 1:25 We’ve come a long way together. If you’ve powered through each of these last 29 days without stopping—Great Going. If you had one or a few stops along the way thanks to that old thing we call life—Great Going. The point is, it’s day 29 and whether it’s taken 29 days or a year and 29 days, all that matters is that you are here. Breaking free from our past is a process. It involves so many things, but healing freedom is our goal. It’s important to understand that there are two types of healing used by God.  One is the miracle. It’s an instant, in the blink of an eye type of restorative healing that is only capable by God. The other healing is a process. This takes time, patience, and persistent faith. It’s often used by God to draw out certain flaws or strengthen certain characteristics in the sufferer and their close allies. It’s not nearly as immediate as a miracle, but the end result is just as solid. Healing is about restoration. There are various types of restoration, and the act of restoring us is a vibrant dynamic. One definition of the word restoration is “the action of returning something to a former owner, place, or condition.” Another is “the process of repairing or renovating a building, work of art, vehicle, etc., so as to restore it to its original condition.” In our restoration, we are being returned to our original owner: God. Restoration is such a vital word in this conversation because it’s exactly the process of not only being washed white as the snow of your transgressions but returning to the original owner and creator, God. That is forgiveness and restoration. This is our time to close the gap and restore life as God intended it to be lived. ## Call To Action 1. Write out in detail about something that you have restored. Maybe it was a car, furniture, a picture, a hobby, or a relationship. How did it make you feel? 2. Write out in detail what it is that is broken in your life and needs God to restore it to its glory. 3. Write out in detail sinful behaviors that you still struggle with, and your plan to commit them to God for repair and restoration. 4. Write out in detail what you envision the restored you will look like.