There are people who specialize in restoring old tractors or cars. They take the old paint off and repaint. They, in some cases, may rebuild the engine. Perhaps they upholster the seats. In short, they clean everything up, put on new parts, make the old machine new again. Some people do this with old houses. By the time they are finished in some cases, it’s hard to recognize that it is actually the same house.
The Good Shepherd restores our soul (Psalms 23:3). He cleans us up from our sin and sinful ways as we confess them He gives us a new heart. There is a description of this in Hebrews 8:10b “…I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people;”. Verse 12 says, “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.”
It is the work of the Good Shepherd to clean us up. We are not capable of doing it ourselves. Our part is to bring ourselves completely to Him, totally admit who we are in our condition, however broken it may be. He will then strip off the old, and clean us up. Then He will bind up the broken hearted, bring liberty to the captives, release us from our bondages, comfort those that mourn, give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise in exchange for the spirit of heaviness. He will then clothe them with His righteousness, and the Lord will be glorified (Isaiah 61:1-3).
Let There Be Life 