Dear brothers and sisters, returning to God is a vital job in our spiritual journey. It is a path of redemption, healing, and renewal. The Bible speaks eloquently about this journey, providing us with divine guidance and wisdom. When we go away from God, it is often due to our choices and distractions. But the beauty of God’s love is that He is always ready to welcome us back with open arms.
Throughout the scriptures, we see countless examples of people who wandered away from God, only to find their way back to Him. One such example is the story of the Prodigal Son. This parable teaches us about a young man who left his father’s house to pursue his desires. However, after experiencing hardship and realizing the emptiness of his choices, he decided to return home. To his surprise, his father welcomed him back with love and forgiveness. This story illustrates God’s boundless mercy and His eagerness to restore us when we come back to Him with a repentant heart.
Dear friends, returning to God requires humility and a genuine desire to seek His presence. It is about acknowledging our mistakes and turning away from our sinful ways. It is about seeking forgiveness and making a conscious effort to walk in His ways. The word of God assures us that when we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. This promise gives us hope and encouragement, knowing that God is always ready to embrace us once more.
Moreover, returning to God involves an inner change of our hearts and minds. It is not just about a change in our outward actions, but a deep, inner renewal. We must let the Holy Spirit work within us, guiding us and strengthening our faith. As we spend time in prayer, study the scriptures, and fellowship with other believers, our relationship with God will grow stronger.
Dear brothers and sisters, it is never too late to return to God. His love for us is everlasting, and His grace is sufficient for all our needs. No matter how far we have wandered, we can always come back to Him. Let us take that step of faith, trusting in His promises and allowing His love to transform our lives.
Dear friends, now let’s see the Bible scriptures below that talk about returning to God.
“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
“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
“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it”
— Malachi 3:10
“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
“The work of righteousness shall be peace; the effect of righteousness quietness assurance for ever”
— Isaiah 32:17
“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
“Incline your ear, come unto me: hear, your soul shall live; I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David”
— Isaiah 55:3
“Let 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 55:7
“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
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, the opening of the prison to them that are bound”
— Isaiah 61:1
“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
“Let us search try our ways, turn again to the Lord”
— Lamentations 3:40
“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
“Draw nigh to God, he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; purify your hearts, ye double minded”
— James 4:8
“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
“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
“When thou art in tribulation, all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, shalt be obedient unto his voice”
— Deuteronomy 4:30
“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
“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
“Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth”
— Luke 15:10
“Come unto me, all ye that labour are heavy laden, I will give you rest”
— Matthew 11:28
“I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments”
— Psalm 119:176
“The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth”
— Psalm 145:18
“He healeth the broken in heart, bindeth up their wounds”
— Psalm 147:3
“The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; saveth such as be of a contrite spirit”
— Psalm 34:18
“Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; uphold me with thy free spirit”
— Psalm 51:12
“Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; we shall be saved”
— Psalm 80:19
“Therefore also now, saith the Lord , turn ye even to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, with mourning”
— Joel 2:12
“For thus saith the Lord unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, ye shall live”
— Amos 5:4
“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
Conclusion
God’s holy word emphasizes the theme of returning to God, as evidenced in verses like Joel 2:13 which urges us to “rend your heart and not your garments” and return to the Lord who is “gracious and compassionate.” Through such scriptures, we learn the importance of repentance, humility, and the boundless mercy of God. These teachings remind us that no matter how far we stray, God’s love and forgiveness are always available to us. Applying these lessons in our lives, we can find solace in God’s unwavering acceptance and strive to live in alignment with His will. By regularly examining our hearts, seeking His guidance, and turning away from sin, we can start a deeper, more meaningful relationship with God, ensuring that our spiritual journey remains true.