Lord, Restore this Woman

Who nurtured the woman who gave birth? Who gave her the love she needed and the care she deserved at such a tender age? Who validated and told her she was special and wasn’t a mistake? Who told her that she was created in the image of God and that her worth was found in her creator? Who assured her that she would never be left or abandoned? Who promised to protect her and keep her hidden in a secret place? Who fought for her when she was weak? Who guided her when she was lost? Who took the time to know this woman, who really understood this woman?

Many women were broken from the beginning. They didn’t have the start they deserved, and that’s unfortunate, because they never asked to be here. You could say they were dealt an unfavorable hand. All or most of their lives, they’ve been trying to figure out why. Why did my life have to be this way? Why was I left alone? Why didn’t I have someone there to protect me? Why? The hardships from their childhood often leaked and influenced their adulthood, which allowed the brokenness to spread like a contaminant. The trauma that was experienced informed the way they interacted and communicated with the outside world. From pushing people away to never feeling good enough, it’s a never-ending cycle of self-destruction. Who has the power to help this woman, who can set her free?

Acknowledge
 
It is first up to her to acknowledge that she is hurting; she must admit that she needs help. She must be bold in her confession and reveal that her soul is sick and in need of healing. Jesus says in Luke 5:31-32 NLT, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor-sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.” This woman must be desperate for a change, a lasting change. In her cry for help, our God in heaven will respond to her need. The Lord says in Matthew 11:28-30 NLT, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Acknowledging our issues and shortcomings exposes our human frailty and reveals our need for Jesus Christ, the Savior.  He says, “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends”. Revelation 3:20 NLT. This shows that the Lord is a gentleman just waiting to be invited into our hearts so that he can heal, guide, and correct.

Release
 
Then she must be willing to release the hurt and pain that was inflicted upon her. Sometimes we carry loads of shame and pain as badges of honor. We let the event define our character and then end up saying Well, this is just me, not realizing that the enemy has placed a false identity upon us in hopes that we would never discover who we were truly meant to be! So, for restoration to come, you have to strip that old nature, dig out that bitterness, find room to forgive, and break the laws you previously set for yourself. Your laws were established when you said you would never do this or that because something negatively impacted you. Psalm 119:36-37 NLT says, “Give me an eagerness for your laws… Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.” We release shame, hurt, etc., so we don’t become slaves to them; they shouldn’t be able to dictate how we feel and react. We release those thoughts of suicide, unforgiveness, and the feeling of not enough, so we can experience true freedom.
 
Prayer for Restoration
 
I took my troubles to the LORD; I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer. Psalm 120:1 NLT.

 Father God, you are worthy to be praised. Thank you for being almighty. Thank you for being all-knowing. There is nothing that is hidden from you, yet still you are merciful and cover us with your grace. Many women need healing and restoration, but today I choose to pray for this woman! The woman who took the time to read this, the woman who has been lost for so long and has nowhere to turn, the woman who is beaten down and no longer has the strength to fight; this is the woman I am asking you to touch and restore. Father God, it is you who lifts those bent beneath their loads, you who said you would neither leave nor abandon us, so it can only be you who can begin to purify and create a clean heart in this woman. This woman has been hurt long enough, rejected for far too long, and has allowed insecurities and fear to keep her bound. Today, I pray that you break the chains of oppression off her life today. I pray that you heal her heart and protect her mind. I command the spirit of confusion to leave right now in Jesus’ name. Order her steps, oh Lord, don’t allow her to continue down the path of destruction, don’t allow depression to keep her in the pit. Today, I pull her out of every dark place and command joy to be her portion. Everything that was stolen from her, whether it be her innocence or her finances, I command it to be restored to her right now in Jesus’ name. Her past will not dictate her future because Lord you said you have a future and a hope for her. Father God, I ask that you begin to breathe new life into her. Everything that is not of you within her, within her home, I command it to leave now in Jesus’ name! Lord, she has acknowledged that she needs help, so help her identify and release everything that has kept her stagnant and unproductive in her life. Help her to release, memories, people, and events that keep her going in demonic cycles and give her the boldness to walk in the freedom you provide. Father God, restore her joy, her happiness, and her sight. Let her see the way you have created her to see. Lord, restore this woman! In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen!
 

Originally written 8/10/2024.