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A reflection and prayer to start the day with Catherine De Souza, Senior Leader of City Church in Cardiff.

Good morning. On this day in 2001 the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa reopened to visitors. It had been closed for 11 years while a team tried to stabilise the structure. Italian authorities spent some £25 million on this task, without ever fixing its famous lean. Although millions of people have climbed its 251 steps, one of the most popular things for tourists to do is pose for a photo pretending to hold up the tower. Well, these experts spent years trying to do just that!

The outcome of this great task was positive in that the tower’s foundations were fortified, but it didn’t solve everything. It’s predicted that over time the tower will continue to lean further and eventually return to the precarious position that caused it to close in the first place.

God’s restoration, in contrast, is complete. Take the Apostle Peter, for example – a man who denied Jesus three times, claiming not to know Him at the most crucial moment. But he repented, he turned the other way. Acts chapter 2 tells us that Peter preached boldly, that he went on to share the good news with a large crowd of people and 3,000 were saved.

Peter went from fearful denier to bold proclaimer, by the power of the Holy Spirit. The man who had denied even knowing Jesus went on to preach a sermon where thousands came to Christ – that’s a pretty awesome day for any preacher!

Where we might feel weak, God has the power to restore and we can trust that His restoration is full and complete.

Lord, how wonderful it is to reflect on your power to restore. When we feel weak, may we know your strength and where we are facing what looks broken, may we experience your incredible restoration. Amen