Daily Devotionals for Women - Today's Encouraging Word from Scripture

Your Nightly Prayer

Return to the Lord Tonight
by Amanda Idleman

TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE

“Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence." - Hosea 6:1-2

SOMETHING TO PONDER

If we aren’t growing closer to God, we will fall away from Him. There is no room for lukewarm in the Kingdom of God. Jesus declares he will vomit us out if we live a lukewarm life (Revelation 3:16).

If you have found yourself stuck, unsure how to move forward in your faith walk, or unsure how your life became entangled in sin, it’s time to return to the Lord. He sees that your life is in pieces but can heal you. He sees you are injured, but he can bind up your wounds. He can restore you to his presence and bring joy into the places that have grown dull and dark because of sin.

The first step to reconciliation in our relationship with God is repentance. If we stop repenting, sin starts growing. To follow God and his ways, our hearts must remain soft, willing to admit our need for our Savior. We have to be willing to let go of our evil ways and turn back towards righteousness. Our hearts must seek Him, and he promises that He will be found.

In what areas of your life do you need to practice repentance? In what ways do you need God’s grace to wipe clean the stains of sin? How can you pursue the joy of salvation again? Ponder these things and ask God’s Spirit to help you find your way back to Him.

YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER

God,
Draw me close to you again. Please give me the strength to return to you. Turn my heart of stone into a soft, alive heart seeking after you! Heal my brokenness. Bind up my wounds. Restore me to your presence.
Amen.

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON

1. Have you lived a lukewarm Christian life? What steps do you feel the spirit is prompting you towards that will bring more passion into your faith?

2. Has sin grown and brought destruction into your life? Pray and ask God to change your life and get you back to Him today.

3. Remember, God’s grace is always available to us. You are loved.

Amanda Idleman is a writer whose passion is encouraging others to live joyfully. She writes devotions for Your Nightly Prayer, Crosswalk Couples Devotional, Your Daily Prayer, and more. She has work published with Her View from Home, on the MOPS Blog, and is a regular contributor for Crosswalk.com, Biblestudytools.com, and Christianity.com. She has most recently published a devotional, Comfort: A 30 Day Devotional Exploring God's Heart of Love for Mommas, alongside her husband’s companion devotional, Shepherd. You can find out more about Amanda on her Facebook Page or follow her on Instagram.