Tag: Restore

The Promise of Restoration: Insights from Jeremiah’s Message

On By Ed AlgreenIn Accept Jesus NOW, Acknowledge God, All have sinned, Awesome God, God Cares For Us, God’s Word, HopeLeave a comment

DATE POSTED
Tuesday, June 24, 2025, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa at Hunter Road, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Read Jeremiah 31:33-34 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the New Living Translation (NLT).

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you have taken a moment to read the Scripture I referenced above, so that my thoughts here will make more sense to you. Jeremiah was used by God to warn the Israelites about the discipline that would come to them. However, as we see in these verses today, he also had a message of great hope for them. This is also the situation today for those who disobey God. He will discipline us and get our attention to turn from our wicked ways, but in the book of Revelation, there is amazing hope for all those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

In the chapters leading up to this one, we learned how, because of their great sin, God chose to discipline His children – His chosen people, in a way that seems extremely harsh to many. However, for those of us who have been around long enough, we know that it sometimes takes harsh discipline to truly get our attention and make it stick. But in today’s lesson, it is so rewarding to reflect on the outcome of that discipline. For in every discipline, we have a choice of returning to our same old sin, or to show that we learned a valuable lesson and are willing to do it right post-discipline. It is always easier to handle discipline when we have our eyes and hearts set on the hope that lies ahead, and I believe that God did just that for His people in this Scripture today.

Think seriously and deeply about this, friends. Assume for a moment that your nation is constantly struggling to fight off evil and the threat of war from an enemy nation. Now assume that your nation has been so unfaithful to God that He has demanded that your whole nation become subjects of that enemy nation. Wouldn’t you feel like the bottom just dropped out of your whole life and that there is absolutely no hope for any future worth living for? Can’t you imagine how the Israelites must have felt in being ruled by the Babylonians? BUT, in today’s Scripture, we are reminded that God will take care of His own and that He would never put more on us than we could handle. Yes, He did what He had to do in disciplining His children when all else failed to get their attention, but He also knew that He would one day bring them back home to where His glory would once again be displayed!

Unfortunately, this is very similar to our situation today. In His Word, God also offers us a ‘Promised Land’, one filled with the joys of Heaven in the presence of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one where there are streets of pure gold! Unfortunately, many in each of our countries have deliberately conceded to Satan instead. We have assumed a lifestyle that often is a mockery in the eyes of God. In many areas of life today, it is often challenging to discern the difference between a child of the Great High, and one who has chosen to do life their own way – the way of the world. Some might say that they are waiting until the end of life, as we know it here on earth, to surrender to the lordship of Jesus Christ. When might that be, dear friends? Children, teenagers, middle-agers, and seniors are dying unexpectedly for various reasons today, and the same could very likely happen to you, my appreciated reader.

In the New Testament, God offered us a New Covenant in the person of Jesus Christ. In this Covenant, we are told that we have a way out of this unrighteousness that we find ourselves in, but only those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved. In other words, those who have not taken that step belong to Satan and will be given over to Hell for all eternity. If you were to tell your relatives right now where they will find you when you die, will it be Heaven or Hell? Only you can make that change, for you must surrender to Jesus for yourself. No proxies are allowed, for there is no provision for that in God’s Word. I’m ready to go home to my Father in Heaven, my good friends, and I sure hope that I will see you at the foot of Jesus worshipping Him with me. If unsure, or if you know that you never expressed faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, please read my Footnote and especially click on the link ‘To Know Jesus’ for Biblical help in making the most important decision you ever made in your life. Jesus loves you and He wants you to make this decision, dear friend!

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, Your love is expressed throughout Your Word, and I was reminded of that as I meditated on today’s verses. Thank You for the reassurance of the hope that lies ahead for other believers and me. This also puts me on notice that my unsaved loved ones and friends are destined for a place quite contrary to the joys I long for in Heaven. Please, Lord, melt the hearts of those I love and others who need You today. Draw them to Yourself and convict them of their sinful state, so that they might surrender to You in faith. I believe, oh Lord, please help those who don’t, for the end of life here on earth is drawing near, according to Your Word. AMEN

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of the information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. Alternatively, consider speaking with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. One of God’s servants will pray with you and offer help and encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals or subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. Friends, I encourage you to find a Bible teaching church home near your residence and attend as frequently as possible. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk while you make every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider being a part of that while also growing in your faith as you worship with fellow believers!

Do It Again Lord!

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Monday, 2022-05-30
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Pslam 85:4-7
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: 4 Now restore us again, O God of our salvation.
    Put aside your anger against us once more.
5 Will you be angry with us always?
    Will you prolong your wrath to all generations?
6 Won’t you revive us again,
    so your people can rejoice in you?
7 Show us your unfailing love, O Lord,
    and grant us your salvation.

APPLICATION: It is unfortunate, but way too often we tend to feel like our one vote won’t matter in a general election, or our ability to participate in the evangelistic work of our church won’t matter much in reaching the masses who have chosen to reject Jesus. But as we look at the desperate plea of Korah’s clan in this Psalm today, we will recognize that they had heard about the actions of their ancestors as they traveled through the Wilderness rejecting God and His wondrous works in spite of Him providing for them as they traveled through desert land. No doubt, they saw the love of God in still keeping up with His covenant agreement with His people by safely delivering them to the Promised Land. But, in true form to what we tend to do today, the Israelites soon forgot their many blessings and returned to their sinful ways when they felt like God’s help was no longer needed. Friends, we are living in such a time that we seem to believe that WE have everything under control, for excuses abound why we needn’t attend church; we are way too busy to find time for enhancing our relationship with God; despite what others face with health issues, we have been unaffected; despite skyrocketing inflation, we have managed to keep bread on our table and clothes on our backs, so ‘we’ve got this’. How sad for us to be so narrow-minded. When previous troubles came, we had a God that we could run to, and we were comforted, provided for, and encouraged to go on. Should this not form an indelible impact on our minds and lives that would invoke praise and adoration each and every day – even when things appear to be going well? Perhaps our daily prayer should be likened to that of Korah’s clan – ‘Please Lord, restore to me, my family, my church, and my workplace, the joy of remembering all that You have done for us. Remind us often of Your power and Your might. Forgive us when we fail to glorify You each day. Restore in us the memory of our very first day under Your wing. Refresh our desire to know You more, and to serve You better, by becoming involved in all the ways that You point us towards here on earth. Do it again Lord – PLEASE?’

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Whenever we ask God to do it again, we are remembering that He had blessed us beyond measure at least once already! He does this every day, so may we celebrate His blessings every day, and seek to share that blessing with others.

PRAYER: It’s amazing how easily we put You on ‘the back-burner’ Lord. You have made such a difference in our lives, and we can never forget Your love, forgiveness, and unending goodness towards us. When we accepted You as Lord and Savior, we became one with You and therefore represent all that You stand for. Please Lord, help us to act in a way pleasing to You and representative of You and Your goodness. Please ‘do it again’ – revive a right spirit within me, within Your church and in every one of Your kids, so that the world might see Your mighty works and Your loving and forgiving spirit. There are many around us that need to know You. Please impact their lives, and do it through us, if it pleases You. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog might indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

A Sinner’s Plea For Restoration

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

Thursday, 2019-08-15

Bible Reference: Psalm 51:10-12
Translation: The Voice (VOICE)

Bible Text: 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God;
    restore within me a sense of being brand new.
11 Do not throw me far away from Your presence,
    and do not remove Your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Give back to me the deep delight of being saved by You;
    let Your willing Spirit sustain me.

OBSERVATION: I trust Christians will meditate on this devotional today even after carefully reading the theme, because the Word of God reminds us that ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. In fact, throughout God’s Word He teaches that sin separates us from God, for He is holy, and sin is not at all holy. So as we meditate today I want us to be conscious of those times that we have sinned, and what our actions have been, following that experience. How were you restored with the Holy One – Jesus Christ?

APPLICATION: For the Christian onlooker, it is easy to look down our noses and condemn the sin purported by a fellow Christian. For the sinner, it is easy to feel condemned because of your sin. So how then shall we reconcile this problem? For surely a sinner is not condemned forever. It may be easier for us to consider a real life situation. I have heard of incidents where a man has been unfaithful to his wife. I have heard where these scenarios have even led to divorce. But then I have heard of scenarios where that husband later went and confessed his sin to his wife and pleaded for restoration. The two did such a fine job that the couple remarried and are now enjoying many more years for trusting, loving relationship and trust in each other. For some of you, this may sound like an impossible task for you, but I want us to carefully consider what God does for us when we bow at the feet of a holy God – One who has never sinned; One who is righteous and holy in every way, but yet we ask Him to forgive us of our unfaithfulness, our sin, our dirt, and our evil. How awesome it is that in His mercy, and in true grace, our Lord forgives and receives us back whole and truly cleansed. This is the example that helped father of the Prodical Son welcome him back home. Think about it, our Father says welcome back my son/daughter, your sins are forgiven. I paid the price for it all on Calvary – even while you and your unholy bunch were yet sinners, because I love you and I consider you my very sons and daughters. Can’t you hear our Father saying: Of course you are welcomed back into my kingdom; of course I welcome you back as my very own children? The Prodical was welcomed back as a son, not as a slave, like he asked for. So my Brothers and Sisters, if we are made in the likeness of our Father, and He is such a forgiving Father, where on earth do we get off at thinking that we are above anyone that seeks forgiveness from us? Why do we struggle to forgive and welcome back a former prisoner who has been rehabilitated and now looking to find there place among Christian friendship and mentoring? Why do we build such a hate for those who hurt us, is that not sin in itself? When they approach us for forgiveness, is it not like one sinner asking another sinner for restoration? Is it any different to a totally lost, sinner, looking into the face of a Holy God and asking Him for restoration – a clean and holy heart? God met us where we were at on our own, shouldn’t we do the same for others?

PRAYER: Precious Lord, please hold my hand and help me through this difficult and challenging life. My readers and I come across folk each day that are so different to us, and Your Word declares that we are to love them. Oh that we might be reminded by Your Spirit that we were once in that same position when we came to You seeking repentance. As You forgave us and restored us to oneness with You, may we also be understanding of others so that they may see Jesus at work in us. AMEN!

Bring ‘em Back

On By Ed AlgreenIn Recover, Renewal, Return to ChristLeave a comment

May I encourage you to get your spiritual ‘Nuggets’ to start your day off right? Pretty amazing that our awesome God would consider feeding even us with His Word! May I encourage you to read the whole devotional, and look for a blessing, friend!………

Today’s Bible Reference: James 5:19-20
Today’s Bible Text: 19 My friends, if any of you wander away from the truth and another one brings you back again, 20 remember this: whoever turns a sinner back from the wrong way will save that sinner’s soul from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.
The Bible Translation: The Good News Translation (GNT)

My Take Away: I believe that James, in the conclusion to his letter, is telling us that we are to constantly be on the lookout for those who choose to walk away from the ‘Truth’. I believe that each of us can bring to mind someone that once flourished in their relationship with God, and because of something silly around the church, or something that someone may have said to them, or about them, they have totally walked away from the Lord. Now, I believe that some will ask you not to be too harsh, because the person really only walked away from the church, not from God. The tough thing for those of us who care, is that the person has lost that possible close relationship they may have had with God. The reason I believe this is true, is that when our hearts are right with God, we want to be around His people. We quickly realize and acknowledge that the person that may have been offended, is in the same boat that we are in, they are a sinner saved by God’s grace, and as long as they remain here on planet earth, they/we are a target for Satan. There is nothing that pleases Satan more, than when he brings division among God’s people, because then the wall of safety has been lowered and facilitates Satan’s entry right into the lives of those once controlled by God. So what then shall we do friends? Let’s look closely at the advice given by James: we are to go after them, and bring ‘em back to a comfortable position among the believers where we could encourage and support them. Isn’t it strange how we quickly run to the rescue of an individual if we know that they were hurt physically, but how afraid we are to run to their rescue when we know they are hurting spiritually? I am deeply hurt for a Brother who has walked away from God because life just didn’t go as he expected when he was involved in the church. It is very challenging to minister to this Brother because he is so bitter. Perhaps I need to imagine that he is hurt physically, then perhaps I will find ways to minister to him! I trust that you will join me in praying for my friend that God might soften his heart to receive His forgiveness and to recognize His love, that is so precious and geared towards him, even in his position against the traditional ‘church’. I will pray that my friend recognizes the love of God that is so strong for him even today, and in spite of how my friend feels about the ‘church’. When we get right with God, He helps us get right with each other. Can you think of at least one person that you need to pray for today and love them back to God? This is what James is preaching to us in this passage friend!

Prayer: Precious Savior, if not for the grace of God, any of us could be subject to the stronghold of Satan and his demonic attacks that may force us into making decisions to stray away from You. Thank You for protecting us, and thank You especially for giving us strength to help friends fight the battle of separation that they may be witnessing today. I pray that You might open the eyes of our friends that are hurting today, and running as hard as they can to distance themselves from Your children. Without judging, I am just plain afraid that they have especially distanced themselves from You dear Father, because from every appearance, there is the appearance of total separation. Please give us the words, the boldness and the opened eyes to see how we might help draw these ones back into the fold. Please begin a very strong work in their lives right now oh God, and please renew within the hearts of Your children a mind to fight hard towards helping our friends by loving them and drawing them back in, in spite of their feelings. Have Your will and way oh God, for I ask this all in the name of Jesus, my sacrificial lamb and every loving Master, AMEN!

Footnote: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog could indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to www.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

2016

Revive Us Again Oh Lord

On By Ed AlgreenIn Forgiveness, Revival, WitnessLeave a comment

May I encourage you to get your spiritual ‘Nuggets’ to start your day off right? Pretty amazing that our awesome God would consider feeding even us with His Word! May I encourage you to read the whole devotional, and look for a blessing, friend!………

Today’s Bible Reference: Psalm 85:4-7
Today’s Bible Text: Now restore us again, O God of our salvation. Put aside your anger against us once more. Will you be angry with us always? Will you prolong your wrath to all generations? Won’t you revive us again, so your people can rejoice in you? Show us your unfailing love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation.
The Bible Translation: New Living Translation (NLT)

My Take Away: Having just read a passage from 1 Chronicles 18, I saw how victorious David had been in battle. In fact, twice in that chapter we are told that God made David victorious in everything he did. Yet I turned to this passage and read about how David pleaded with God for revival. In much the same way, I believe that each of us meditating on this today will acknowledge that we have seen fairly good successes in our marriages, our work, our churches and even in our own lives, yet there are times that we feel like we have reached a plateau and  for some reason we have just stopped moving ahead. Like David, we sometimes stop and question what would it take for us, or our people to rejoice again. Friends, David quickly discovered that it was sin that was holding back the hand of God from continuing to bless His people. For you see, something must have died, or seriously soured, for David to feel the need for God to ‘revive’ he and his people again. Asking God to give us something, means that we never had it. Asking Him to ‘revive us’, means that we had it, but for some reason it is no longer vibrant; or perhaps effective; or perhaps exciting, or perhaps no longer working for us. Do you suppose that’s where our churches are today? Is that why people are comfortable attending church because they could leave without being challenged with the sin in their lives? Friends, if we want our families saved, or our coworkers drawn closer to the Lord, and we don’t seem to be effective in doing that any longer, then we had best follow David’s example and ask God to forgive us of our sin. Oh that God would draw closer to us once again so that He might show His power through us as individuals, and corporately as we join together at our church buildings. Perhaps then, we might become the hands of Jesus outstretched to the poor and needy. Perhaps then, sinners will rejoice and seek forgiveness, because they see a living example of what Jesus truly looks like. Perhaps then Christians will seek the face of Jesus, and not just His hands to meet their needs. Where do you stand friend? Do you need Jesus, or do you need His reviving touch again?

Prayer: Father God, we have become such a needy people, but yet we seem more interested in Your outstretched hand, than we are in drawing closer to Your side and worshipping You in total transparency. You are our creator, and You are the Almighty God, from whom nothing is hidden. Please help us to get honest with ourselves, and stay transparent before You, for I believe that it is only then that our spirits might one with Yours, and that we would constantly seek Your face and not just Your hand. Please forgive us when we become weak and distant from You. Please help us to always seek a reviving touch from You so that we might get downright honest with ourselves and before You. Lord, we want to be just like You, yet it is so obvious that we are stained constantly by the sin in this world. Please draw us close to You so that we might be effective in our witness for You while here on this planet. I ask all this in faith, and in the strong name of Jesus, AMEN!

Footnote: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog could indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to www.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

2016

Restore Your Church Oh God

On By Ed AlgreenIn All have sinned, Bible Believing, Celebrate God, Chosen by God, Christian, Encourage, Eternal Life, Evangelism, Faith, Follow Jesus, Forgiveness, God our Helper, Grace, Heaven, Holy Spirit, Humility, Imitator of Christ, Listen to the Word of God, Love God, Obedience, Our Help comes from God, Power of Prayer, Praise, Repentance, Righteousness, Servants of God, Surrender, Trust, WorshipLeave a comment

The Bible – New Living Translation

Psalm 85:4–7

    4 Now restore us again, O God of our salvation. Put aside your anger against us once more.

    5 Will you be angry with us always? Will you prolong your wrath to all generations?

    6 Won’t you revive us again, so your people can rejoice in you?

    7 Show us your unfailing love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation.

Thoughts:

In my first read through this passage of scripture I was touched by the prayer of David to save his people, and my heart was deeply touched by his prayer because I can clearly see how many around us, in our neighborhoods and in our cities, need the Lord. However, on closer study of this I realized that you can only restore something that at one time was resident there before. So my heart immediately went out to what David was really praying, because I believe that we are seeing churches dying today at a greater record than ever before in the history of our land. In part, I believe that this is because we need an equally as large evangelism effort to the once ‘saved’ who have fallen by the wayside, as we do to the ones who have totally disregarded the message of the cross. Like you, I am very concerned about all that is going on in our land, and in this world, where we are killing each other without any regard for precious life itself. However, this should come as no surprise to Christians, because even back in 2 Chronicles 7:14 it was declared that God is looking for His people, His children, to humble themselves and pray, before He would give consideration to healing our land. When Christians treat their relationship, their commitment, so flippantly, and when there is no humility in looking to God for His powerful, healing and restoring hand upon His people and our land, what is it that we should really expect differently? Friends, we are bringing damnation on ourselves, on our churches and on our land. Remember, God is still in control and His Word will endure to the end, so we must follow His plan if we ever expect to see God restore us again! What is your role? Are you following His plan, so that you might expect to see Him restore us again? Please, let us humble ourselves and pray…..

Prayer:

Jesus, my Lord, in all humility I pray that You might touch the hearts of Your people once again. Begin with me, I pray. May Your church be revived once again, I pray. May each person meditating on this devotional today realize that this is not the ‘place’ we call church, but the body of Christ that at one time or another made a sober decision to accept You as Lord and Savior of their life. May the places that we call ‘church’ burst wide open from the crowds that will be renewed/revived and reminded of their obligation to their Master and Lord. May Your ‘church’ truly come alive again, so that we may follow Your commands and humble ourselves before You and pray. Lord, may the uncommitted one that may be lead to read this devotional today realize the importance of surrendering themselves to Your Lordship today. We are in desperate need of a touch from You oh King, please hear my prayer and heal us. Please cause us to recommit ourselves to do Your perfect will. For I ask all this in the name of the only One with the power to do anything about our pitiful condition, Jesus, my Lord, AMEN!

NOTE: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray.