Dear brothers and sisters, the journey of returning to God is one filled with grace, love, and transformation. The Bible is rich with stories and teachings that remind us of the importance of turning back to our Creator. When we stray from His path, God, in His infinite mercy, always calls us back with open arms.
One of the most beautiful examples of returning to God is the story of the Prodigal Son. This parable illustrates a young man who, after squandering his inheritance in a distant land, realizes his mistake and decides to return to his father. Despite his wayward actions, his father welcomes him back with joy and celebration. This story teaches us that no matter how far we have strayed, God eagerly awaits our return, ready to forgive and restore us.
Another inspiring example is the prophet Jonah. Jonah initially ran away from God’s command to go to Nineveh. However, after a series of divine interventions, Jonah repents and obeys God’s call. His story reminds us that even when we try to run from God’s plan, He never gives up on us. God’s patience and persistence show His deep desire for us to realign with His will.
Dear friends, returning to God requires genuine repentance and a heartfelt desire to seek His presence. It’s about acknowledging our sins and humbly asking for His forgiveness. The Bible encourages us to draw near to God, and He promises to draw near to us. It is through prayer, reading His Word, and seeking His guidance that we can rekindle our relationship with Him.
Moreover, the Bible assures us that God’s love for us is steadfast. In times of trouble, when we feel lost or distant from God, it’s important to remember that He is always near. Just like a shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to find the one lost sheep, God actively seeks us out, longing to bring us back into His fold.
In conclusion, dear brothers and sisters, let us be encouraged to return to God with all our hearts. His love is unchanging, and His mercy is everlasting. When we turn back to Him, we experience the fullness of His grace and the joy of being in His presence.
Dear friends, now let’s see the Bible scriptures below that talk about returning to God.
“Therefore also now, saith the Lord , turn ye even to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, with mourningAnd rend your heart, not your garments, turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious merciful, slow to anger, of great kindness, repenteth him of the evil”
— Joel 2:12-13
“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord , till he come rain righteousness upon you”
— Hosea 10:12
“Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy judgment wait on thy God continually”
— Hosea 12:6
“O israel, return unto the Lord thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquityTake with you words, turn to the Lord : say unto him, Take away all iniquity, receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips”
— Hosea 14:1-2
“Come, let us return unto the Lord : for he hath torn, he will heal us; he hath smitten, he will bind us up”
— Hosea 6:1
“I will pour upon the house of David, upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace of supplications: they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn”
— Zechariah 12:10
“Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts, I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of hosts”
— Zechariah 1:3
“Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, have not kept them. Return unto me, I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?”
— Malachi 3:7
“The Lord shall smite Egypt: he shall smite heal it: they shall return even to the Lord , he shall be intreated of them, shall heal them”
— Isaiah 19:22
“Come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord : though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool”
— Isaiah 1:18
“For thus saith the Lord God , the Holy One of Israel; In returning rest shall ye be saved; in quietness in confidence shall be your strength: ye would not”
— Isaiah 30:15
“Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted”
— Isaiah 31:6
“I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, , as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee”
— Isaiah 44:22
“Look unto me, be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, there is none else”
— Isaiah 45:22
“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is nearLet the wicked forsake his way, the unrighteous man his thoughts: let him return unto the Lord , he will have mercy upon him; to our God, for he will abundantly pardon”
— Isaiah 55:6-7
“For thus saith the high lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high holy place, with him also that is of a contrite humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, to revive the heart of the contrite ones”
— Isaiah 57:15
“Therefore thus saith the Lord , If thou return, then will I bring thee again, thou shalt stand before me: if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them”
— Jeremiah 15:19
“If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them”
— Jeremiah 18:8
“I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord : they shall be my people, I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart”
— Jeremiah 24:7
“Ye shall seek me, find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart”
— Jeremiah 29:13
“I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, I shall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God”
— Jeremiah 31:18
“Go proclaim these words toward the north, say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord ; I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the Lord , I will not keep anger for ever”
— Jeremiah 3:12
“Return, ye backsliding children, I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the Lord our God”
— Jeremiah 3:22
“If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the Lord , return unto me: if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight, then shalt thou not remove”
— Jeremiah 4:1
“Draw nigh to God, he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; purify your hearts, ye double minded”
— James 4:8
“Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, one convert himLet him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, shall hide a multitude of sins”
— James 5:19-20
“Let us search try our ways, turn again to the Lord”
— Lamentations 3:40
“Shalt return unto the Lord thy God, shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou thy children, with all thine heart, with all thy soul”
— Deuteronomy 30:2
“But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart with all thy soul”
— Deuteronomy 4:29
“But shewed first unto them of Damascus, at Jerusalem, throughout all the coasts of Judaea, then to the Gentiles, that they should repent turn to God, do works meet for repentance”
— Acts 26:20
“Repent ye therefore, be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord”
— Acts 3:19
“But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, keep all my statutes, do that which is lawful right, he shall surely live, he shall not die”
— Ezekiel 18:21
“For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God : wherefore turn yourselves, live ye”
— Ezekiel 18:32
“Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God , I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”
— Ezekiel 33:11
“A new heart also will I give you, a new spirit will I put within you: I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, I will give you an heart of flesh”
— Ezekiel 36:26
“But if ye turn unto me, keep my commandments, do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there”
— Nehemiah 1:9
“I thought on my ways, turned my feet unto thy testimonies”
— Psalm 119:59
“The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth”
— Psalm 145:18
“I acknowledge my sin unto thee, mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord ; thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah”
— Psalm 32:5
“Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; uphold me with thy free spirit”
— Psalm 51:12
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise”
— Psalm 51:17
“Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; we shall be saved”
— Psalm 80:19
“Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth”
— Luke 15:10
“Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, repent, do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent”
— Revelation 2:5
“He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea”
— Micah 7:19
“Seek ye the Lord , all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord ‘s anger”
— Zephaniah 2:3
“For thus saith the Lord unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, ye shall live”
— Amos 5:4
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Bible repeatedly calls for individuals to return to God, emphasizing His readiness to forgive and restore those who seek Him with a sincere heart. Verses such as Joel 2:13, Isaiah 55:7, and Hosea 6:1 highlight the importance of repentance and the promise of God’s unwavering mercy. From this, we learn that no matter how far we may stray, God’s love and grace are always available to us. Applying these teachings in our lives involves a genuine commitment to turn away from our wrongdoings, seek God’s guidance through prayer and scripture, and trust in His promises. By doing so, we can experience spiritual renewal and a closer relationship with God, fostering a life of purpose and fulfillment.