The God of MORE | I Just Want More | Pastor Jerry Lawson | Daystar Church

Devotional

Day 1: God Restores What Is Broken

No matter how much has been lost or destroyed, God is in the business of restoration. Even when it seems like all hope is gone and the ruins of our past mistakes surround us, God promises to rebuild, repair, and restore. He calls us to stand tall again, not as a diminished version of ourselves, but as the very best version He intended. Nothing is off the table for God—no failure, no broken relationship, no financial ruin, no health crisis is beyond His power to redeem. If you feel disqualified or too far gone, remember that God’s plan for you is still alive, and He desires to bring you into fullness and blessing, just as He promised to Israel through the prophet Amos. [14:35]

Amos 9:11-15 (ESV)
“In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen and repair its breaches, and raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old, that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations who are called by my name,” declares the Lord who does this. “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when the plowman shall overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes him who sows the seed; the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it. I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine, and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant them on their land, and they shall never again be uprooted out of the land that I have given them,” says the Lord your God.

Reflection: What is one area of your life that feels ruined or beyond repair? Will you ask God today to begin His work of restoration in that very place?

Day 2: God Won’t Heal What You Hide

God’s healing and restoration require honesty and openness. When we try to hide our failures, sins, or wounds—whether out of shame, pride, or fear—we block the very grace that God wants to pour into our lives. From the very beginning, humanity has tried to cover up its brokenness, but God’s response has always been to provide a true covering through the sacrifice of Jesus. Worship is about coming clean before God, not pretending or hiding. When you bring your real self—flaws, wounds, and all—into the light, God meets you with forgiveness and healing. [20:25]

Genesis 3:7-9, 21 (ESV)
Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” ... And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.

Reflection: Is there something you’ve been hiding from God or others? What would it look like to bring it honestly before God today and trust Him to cover and heal you?

Day 3: God Blesses Us to Bless Others

God’s blessings are never meant to stop with us—they are meant to flow through us to others. From Abraham to the present, God’s pattern is to bless His people so that they can be a blessing. When God restores and rebuilds your life, He immediately invites you to join Him in rebuilding and blessing others. The church is not a cruise ship for the comfortable, but a construction crew for the broken. Your story, your healing, and your resources are tools in God’s hands to bring hope and help to someone else. [25:25]

Genesis 12:2-3 (ESV)
And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

Reflection: Who is one person you can intentionally bless or encourage this week, out of the overflow of what God has done in your life?

Day 4: Release Control and Trust God’s Way

God cannot rebuild what you refuse to release. Holding tightly to control—over your finances, relationships, or wounds—keeps you stuck in brokenness. True freedom and restoration come when you let go and trust God’s way, even when it’s uncomfortable or countercultural. This means being honest about your mistakes, refusing to blame others, and surrendering your plans to God’s wisdom. When you release your grip, God is able to do His best work in your life, even in the middle of your mess. [22:48]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Reflection: What is one area where you are still trying to control the outcome? How can you take a practical step today to release it to God and trust His way?

Day 5: Your Healed Wounds Become Someone Else’s Hope

Your past pain and struggles do not disqualify you from helping others; in fact, they uniquely qualify you. God uses wounded healers—people who have met Him in their pain—to bring hope and healing to others. When you allow God to heal your wounds, your story becomes a testimony that can lift someone else out of despair. Don’t hide your scars; let them be a signpost of God’s faithfulness. Step into someone else’s mess, just as Jesus stepped into ours, and let your healed wounds become their hope. [26:10]

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (ESV)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Reflection: What is one wound or struggle from your past that God has brought you through? How might you use your story to encourage or help someone else this week?

Sermon Summary

In Amos chapter 9, God’s heart for restoration shines through after a long season of warning and judgment. The people of Israel had misunderstood the purpose of their blessings, thinking it was all about them, when in fact God had blessed them so they could be a blessing to others. This is a truth that still applies today: blessings are meant to flow through us, not just to us. Yet, it’s easy to lose sight of this, especially when we don’t always feel blessed or when financial pressures mount.

Practical wisdom for financial health is rooted in biblical principles. Giving first, living on less than you make, saving and investing wisely, and avoiding debt are not just good advice—they are spiritual disciplines that align our hearts with God’s purposes. These habits create margin in our lives, allowing us to respond to needs and to be generous. But even if we’ve made mistakes, God’s grace is greater. He invites us to forget the former things and not dwell on the past, because He is always ready to do a new thing in our lives.

Amos 9 is a powerful reminder that God specializes in restoration. Even when everything seems ruined—finances, relationships, health—God promises to rebuild, repair, and restore. The best version of ourselves is not off the table, no matter how far we’ve fallen or how many mistakes we’ve made. But there’s a condition: God won’t heal what we won’t reveal, and He won’t rebuild what we won’t release. Honesty and surrender are the keys to experiencing God’s restoration.

Once God begins His work of restoration in us, He immediately calls us to join Him in rebuilding others. We are not called to be passive recipients of grace, but active participants in God’s construction crew. Our wounds, once healed, become sources of hope for others. Like the story of Natalie, who, despite her own pain and loss, became a wounded healer rescuing others from darkness, we too are called to step into the messiness of others’ lives. God does His best work in ruins, and He invites us to be part of that redemptive work.

Key Takeaways

1. Blessings are meant to flow through us God’s blessings are never intended to stop with us. When we recognize that we are blessed to be a blessing, our perspective shifts from self-preservation to generosity. This mindset opens us up to be conduits of God’s love and provision in the world, even when we don’t always feel blessed ourselves. [00:28]
2. God won’t heal what we won’t reveal True restoration begins with honesty. When we hide our brokenness—whether out of shame, pride, or fear—we block the healing work of God. Worship, at its core, is about coming clean before God, trusting that His grace is sufficient to cover every failure and every wound. [18:03]
3. Restoration requires surrender and release God is ready and able to rebuild what we have broken, but He asks us to let go of control. Holding on to our pain, our mistakes, or our need to manage outcomes keeps us from experiencing the fullness of God’s restoration. Surrender is not weakness; it is the doorway to God’s best. [22:14]
4. Healed wounds become hope for others Our past pain, once touched by God’s grace, becomes a source of hope and healing for others. We are called to be wounded healers, stepping into the mess of others’ lives with empathy and courage. God uses our stories, not in spite of our scars, but because of them, to bring light into darkness. [25:47]
5. It’s never too late for God’s restoration No matter how much has been lost or how many mistakes have been made, nothing is off the table with God. His power to restore is not limited by our past. When we trust Him and step forward in faith, He can do immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine. [15:01]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:28] - God’s Blessings: For You and Through You
[01:20] - Biblical Do’s and Don’ts with Money
[03:16] - The 10-10-80 Plan and Financial Wisdom
[05:10] - Saving, Margin, and Living Below Raises
[08:51] - Avoiding Debt and Impulse Spending
[11:31] - God’s Promise: It’s Not Too Late
[13:06] - Amos 9: Restoration from Ruins
[16:44] - Trusting God to Rebuild What’s Broken
[18:03] - Honesty Before God: No More Hiding
[22:14] - Surrendering Control for Restoration
[23:20] - God Works in Our Mess
[24:35] - Joining God in Rebuilding Others
[25:47] - Wounded Healers: Your Story Matters
[28:15] - Natalie’s Story: Courage in Brokenness
[32:22] - Today Is Your Day for a Miracle
[34:42] - Receiving God’s Righteousness and Grace

Bible Study Guide

**Bible Study Discussion Guide: Restoration and Blessing (Amos 9)**

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### Bible Reading

**Amos 9:11-15 (ESV)**
> 11 “In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen and repair its breaches, and raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old,
> 12 that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations who are called by my name,” declares the Lord who does this.
> 13 “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when the plowman shall overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes him who sows the seed; the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it.
> 14 I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine, and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit.
> 15 I will plant them on their land, and they shall never again be uprooted out of the land that I have given them,” says the Lord your God.

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### Observation Questions

According to Amos 9:11-15, what specific things does God promise to restore or rebuild for Israel?
In the sermon, what was the main reason God blessed Israel in the first place? ([00:28])
What are some of the practical financial habits mentioned in the sermon that are rooted in biblical principles? ([01:20])
What does the pastor say is required before God will heal or rebuild something in our lives? ([18:03])

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### Interpretation Questions

The sermon says, “God’s blessings are never intended to stop with us.” What does it mean for blessings to flow through us rather than just to us? How does this change the way we view what we have? ([00:28])
The phrase “God won’t heal what you won’t reveal” is repeated in the sermon. Why is honesty before God so important for restoration? ([18:03])
The pastor talks about surrendering control and releasing our pain or mistakes to God. Why do you think holding on to control can block God’s work of restoration? ([22:14])
The story of Natalie is shared as an example of a “wounded healer.” How does God use our past pain to help others, according to the sermon? ([25:47])

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### Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to see ourselves as “blessed to be a blessing.” In what areas of your life do you tend to see blessings as just for you, rather than something to share? What is one way you could intentionally bless someone else this week? ([00:28])
The pastor lists several practical financial habits (giving first, budgeting, saving, avoiding debt, etc.). Which of these habits is most challenging for you right now? What is one small step you could take to move toward financial health? ([01:20])
Is there an area of your life—finances, relationships, health, or something else—where you need God’s restoration? What would it look like for you to “reveal” this to God instead of hiding it? ([18:03])
The sermon says, “God won’t rebuild what you won’t release.” Is there something you’re holding onto (pain, regret, control) that you sense God is asking you to let go of? What would it take for you to surrender it? ([22:14])
Think about a time when God brought you through a difficult season. How could your story or experience become a source of hope for someone else who is struggling right now? ([25:47])
The story of Natalie shows that God can use even our deepest wounds to help others. Is there a specific way you feel called to step into someone else’s “mess” or pain, even if you don’t feel fully healed yourself? ([25:47])
The pastor says, “It’s never too late for God’s restoration.” Are there areas where you’ve felt like it’s “too late” for things to change? What would it look like to trust God for restoration in those places? ([15:01])

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Sermon Clips

When is God doing a new thing? Every single time somebody decides, I've heard God's word for my life. I want to make a new thing. God will do a new thing in your life right then and there. In your health, in your finances, in the decisions you make, in your marriage, in every way. When you decide, I'm not looking backwards. I've made some mistakes. I wish I'd done things differently. But listen to me when I tell you, it is not too late for the blessings of God to overtake you. It's not too late. [00:11:31] (26 seconds) #GodMakesAllThingsNew

No matter what happened in the past. No, if you're like pastor, if you somehow knew my financial picture, it's still not too late because God is still God. He's still on the throne. He's still able to do immeasurably more than you could ask or imagine, the Bible says, according to his power working through us. It's not too late. In fact, remember this. The Lord our God is our sun and shield. He's the goodness of God and our every good thing is from him. And he gives us grace and glory. [00:11:56] (29 seconds) #BestVersionOfYou

The absolute best version of yourself is still God's plan for you. Somebody just receive that right now. Just believe that in spite of what's happened, in spite of where you are right now, God's plan for you is still for you to stand up straight and tall and be the best version of yourself. Nothing's off the table. You hear me? Nothing's off the table. Well, I already screwed up my marriage. I can't have a good family. That's not off the table. Well, I'm in debt so far. I've already gone bankrupt. I can't be financially blessed. That's not off the table. [00:14:28] (31 seconds) #NothingIsOffTheTable

I'm telling you on the authority, not of a motivational speaker, but of the word of God, that nothing is impossible for people who will believe in our God. It's not off the table. And God wants you to stand up tall and straight and rise into the best version of yourself. This is a book. This book of Amos is a book of restoration, but this whole book is a book of restoration. From Genesis to Revelation, God restores. It's a book of resurrection, things that have just been killed or murdered, things that are dead and out of your mind. God says, I can still make those things come to life. [00:15:02] (37 seconds) #GodRestoresAll

God can't bless what you hide. In fact, I can't say it better than this. God won't heal what you won't reveal. And God won't rebuild what you won't release. He's a healer. That's who he is. Jehovah Raphae heals everything. Your mind, your thoughts, your emotions, your physical body, your finances, your marriage, your job, your career, everything. That's what he does. But if you hide it, he can't heal it. You go all the way to the very first book of the Bible, you see this lesson. You see Adam and Eve walking in the Garden of Gethsemane. Everything is cool. They walk into sin. What they need to do is own it. [00:18:03] (41 seconds) #HonestWorship

God is firmly loving and capable of rebuilding what you have broken. But you can't hide it from God, you can't hide your sin, and you can't take control of things. You have to do it God's way. So what is it that you need God to rebuild in your life? Your finances or your marriage, your emotions, your health? You've got to be honest about that. Don't blame other people. Don't blame the devil, you know. Just move on. That's in your past. Own it. And say, God, what do you want to do next in my life? Because if you'll release it, he'll rebuild it. [00:22:43] (38 seconds) #RebuildAndBless

See, God does his best work in ruins. The Christmas season proves it. Jesus came to earth. And where did he come? He came to an oppressed nation, into a powerless family, born in a stable that was made for animals. And he came to a world filled with darkness. Like, he didn't come to the strength. He comes into our mess, not after we cleaned it up, but right in the middle of it. But listen to this, God does his best in your mess. It's proven in the Christmas story. He goes right in the middle of the mess. [00:23:20] (29 seconds) #WoundedHealers

God's church is not a cruise ship. It's a construction crew. We're not just riding along trying to avoid the rocky waves and everything's going to be fine. One day Jesus is going to come back. We are immediately getting into the life of building other people's lives. Henry Nouwen famously said that Christians are wounded healers. Say that with me. Wounded healers. That's what you are. Not perfect people, not people without scars, but people who have met God in the middle of their pain. And now they walk with others through their pain. [00:25:32] (37 seconds) #JesusInTheMess

Your healed wounds become someone else's hope. You've been through an anxiety problem. That wound that you've been healed from becomes the hope of somebody else who's dealing with anxiety. You went through bankruptcy. I've got a friend who went through a horrible bankruptcy. And I've watched him nurse people back to hope who are struggling with their finances. Your healed wounds become somebody else's hope. Don't hide them. Man, be thankful for what God's brought you through. Wounds don't disqualify you from healing others. They uniquely qualify you for healing others. [00:26:12] (44 seconds) #PurposeInYourPulse

Christmas reminds us that Jesus entered the world to change it from the inside out. He didn't step back and go, you need to change this. You need to straighten that out. He didn't send lightning bolts from heaven. He got in there with us. And that's our model. Get in somebody's mess. Be on the construction crew. Love somebody this Christmas season. Be generous so someone can be blessed this season. Invite someone to church and be a part of this experience that has blessed your life. Get in the middle of somebody's struggle. [00:26:57] (30 seconds) #MiracleMomentToday

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