God Can Restore You After You Sin

by Rick Warren — February 2, 2021
From When You’re Hoping for a Miracle

“If you return to me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve me.”

Jeremiah 15:19 (NLT)

When you become a believer in Christ, you are born again into God’s family, and you cannot be unborn. Although fellowship with God can be damaged by sin, the relationship is still there. You’re only one step away from returning.

So, what should you do when you sin? One word: Return! Come back to Christ. It’s that simple.

Isaiah 1:18 says, “No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can take it out and make you as clean as freshly fallen snow” (TLB).

On the night Jesus was arrested, his disciple Peter denied knowing and following Jesus three times. If ever there were a sin you’d think was unforgivable, it would be that! But Jesus knew Peter would deny him, and he knew Peter would come back to him. In fact, before it even happened, Jesus said to Peter in the Upper Room, “I have pleaded in prayer for you that your faith should not completely fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen and build up the faith of your brothers” (Luke 22:32 TLB).

Jesus knew Peter’s ministry would be more effective after his denial than it was before. And, sure enough, it was! Peter wrote the two books of the Bible that we call 1 Peter and 2 Peter. Then he shared his memoirs with a relative, and that’s the gospel of Mark.

You may think God has forgotten you. He hasn’t. The Good Shepherd leaves the 99 sheep to go after the one. He knows how you’ve fallen away. Maybe it happened in one giant step, or perhaps it was a series of small, tiny steps. Whatever it was, you’re not as close to Christ as you used to be.

You need to pray what David prayed when he came back to God after committing adultery. He said, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation” (Psalm 51:12 NLT). David did not have to pray, “God, restore to me my salvation,” because he hadn’t lost his salvation. He had lost the joy.

Why not come home to Christ today?

Talk It Over

  • What keeps you from returning to Christ after you’ve sinned?
  • What do you need God to restore in your life that has been broken because of sin?
  • How can you be more effective for Christ by returning in repentance to him? What do you want to accomplish for God’s Kingdom?

Have you trusted Jesus for your salvation?

The Bible says we can only get to heaven by trusting in God through his Son, Jesus Christ. And we don’t have to earn God’s love or work our way into heaven. The Bible says, “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV).

If you haven’t trusted in Jesus and committed to following him, why wait any longer? If you’re ready to step across that line and make a decision to believe in Jesus Christ and follow him, pray this prayer:

“Dear Jesus, you have promised that if I believe in you, everything I’ve ever done wrong will be forgiven, I will learn the purpose of my life, and you will accept me into your eternal home in heaven one day.

“I confess my sin, and I believe that you are my Savior. You have promised that if I confess my sin and trust you, I will be saved. I trust you when you say salvation comes by grace, through faith, and not by anything I do. I receive you into my life as my Lord. Today I’m turning over every part of my life to your management. You have the right to call the shots in my life.

“Jesus, I want to relax in your love. Thank you that I don’t have to earn it or work for it. I want to use the rest of my life to serve you instead of serving myself. I humbly commit my life to you and ask you to save me and accept me into your family. In your name I pray. Amen.”

If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email me at [email protected] and let me know about it. I’d like to send you some free materials to help you start your journey with Jesus.


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