WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
AUGUST 12, 2025
TOPIC: DIVINE RESTORATION
BY T. O. BANSO
“When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’ The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy” (Psalm 126:1-3 New International Version).
God is the God of restoration. Restoration is “The returning of something or someone to their original state” (Dictionary of Bible Themes). In Ezekiel 36, God told the prophet Ezekiel to prophesy restoration to Israel.
God said, “I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bear young; I will make you inhabited as in former times, and do better for you than at your beginnings. Then you shall know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 36:11 New King James Version).
In addition, in Jeremiah 23:3, God said, by the mouth of the prophet Jeremiah, that He would gather, increase, and multiply the Jews who were scattered. “And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and multiply” (Jeremiah 23:3 American Standard Version).
In Jeremiah 33, the prophet Jeremiah prophesied restoration in the cities of Judah and the desolate streets of Jerusalem. The LORD said He would restore the fortunes of Judah and Israel and rebuild their cities (verse 7). He said there would be the voice of those who would say, “Praise the Lord of hosts, for the Lord is good, for His mercy endures forever” (verse 11b New King James Version).
Moreover, the LORD said concerning the Israelites in Joel 2:25-26, “So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; and My people shall never be put to shame” (New King James Version).
These scriptures are just a few that show us that God is the God of restoration. I don’t know what you have lost and where you need restoration; God’s power can bring about restoration. Psalm 126:1-3 says, “When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’ The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy” (New International Version).
The psalmist followed up this with a prayer, “Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert. Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest” (verses 4-6 New Living Translation).
This season, you will experience restoration in Jesus’ name. Maybe you are sick. The Lord will restore your health. With God, nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:37). All things are possible to him who believes (Mark 9:23b). Believe Him for your healing. Trust the Lord to deliver you right now by His power.
Jeremiah 30:17 says, “‘For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,’ says the Lord, ‘Because they called you an outcast saying: ‘This is Zion; no one seeks her’” (New King James Version). I pray that the healing power of God will touch you now and deliver you in Jesus’ name.
Your body will no longer be tormented by any demon of sickness. You will be as fit as a fiddle. All those who have seen you sick before will see you again hale and hearty. All eyes that have seen you down with sickness in the hospital before will see you up again, strong and healthy. All those who think you are down and out will see your restoration in Jesus’ name.
The restoration you need may not be bodily healing. It may be a restoration of your marriage, business, ministry, family relationship, friendship, etc. God is a God of restoration. His power will make the restoration you need a reality.
Because of her faith in the ministry of the prophet Elisha, the Shunammite woman experienced the restoration to life of her only child when he died (2 Kings 4:8-37). This season, the Lord shall restore to life whatever good thing has died in your life.
Also, in Mark 5, Jesus restored Jairus’ daughter to life. This twelve-year-old girl died while the father, Jairus, was waiting for Jesus to follow Him to heal her. Unfortunately for him, another person with a twelve-year-old problem, the woman with the issue of blood, interrupted Jesus’ entourage, causing a delay that was enough for the sick daughter to die before Jesus could get there!
While still waiting for Jesus to get to his house, they brought the sad news that the daughter was dead and he shouldn’t trouble Jesus further. In other words, they concluded it was too late for Jesus to do anything about the situation. But when Jesus heard this, He told Jairus not to be afraid but only to believe. Your divine restoration is near. Only believe.
Jesus eventually got to Jairus’ house and restored his dead daughter to life. He took her by the hand and said, “‘Talitha, cumi,’ which is translated, ‘Little girl, I say to you, arise’” (Mark 5:41b New King James Version). Immediately, the girl arose and walked. The child’s parents and those with Jesus were overcome with great amazement (verse 42).
The same power that restored Jairus’ daughter to life also raised Lazarus from the dead four days after he had been buried (John 11:17, 38-45). Also, the only son of the widow of Nain was being carried out of the city for burial when Jesus stopped the funeral procession and restored him to life (Luke 7:11-17).
Jesus restored the eyes of the blind, the legs of the lame, and the ears of the deaf. He also restored the ability of the dumb to speak. Divine restoration didn’t stop with Jesus. His disciples continued where He stopped. For example, the power of God working through Peter restored Dorcas (Tabitha) to life (Acts 9:36-42).
Whatever good thing is dead in your life, whether your business, ministry, career, or marriage, it shall be restored to life in Jesus’ name. People may have written you off, but in the name of Jesus, you’ll experience restoration. In the latter part of Jeremiah 33:11, the LORD says, “I will restore the prosperity of this land to what it was in the past” (New Living Translation).
Probably you have lost a position through a mistake, injustice, conspiracy, or persecution. Believe in God for restoration. God will show you mercy and restore you. Pharaoh restored the chief cupbearer to his position so that he could again put the cup into his (Pharaoh’s) hand (Genesis 40:21). Talking to Pharaoh about Joseph, the chief cupbearer said, “And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was impaled” (Genesis 41:13 New International Version). God will restore you to the position you may have lost.
God restored Nebuchadnezzar to the throne after he had come back to his senses and humbled himself (Daniel 4:36). God will restore you to your office. He will restore to you what you have lost. “Return to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope. Even today I declare that I will restore double to you” (Zechariah 9:12 New King James Version).
The Lord, who restored double to Job, will do the same for you. “And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before” (Job 42:10 New King James Version).
To enjoy restoration sometimes requires repentance from sin. Sin is a robber! Genuine repentance is the pathway to the restoration of what sin has robbed you of. Deuteronomy 30:1-5 says that the Israelites will be exiled as punishment for disobeying the commandments of God, but if they return to the LORD and wholeheartedly obey all His commands, restoration will follow.
Repentance from sin and obedience will facilitate your restoration – restoration of peace, joy, or whatever you’ve lost. Just as the restoration of the Israelites from the exile to Jerusalem was like a dream, your restoration shall also be.
You can’t continue in sin so that grace multiply – you can’t keep on sinning so that God can show you more and more kindness and forgiveness (Romans 6:1). If you humble yourself, pray, and seek His face, and turn from your disobedience, God will forgive and heal – He’ll restore what disobedience has stolen from you (2 Chronicles 7:14).
God can restore to you whatever you’ve lost. Have faith in Him and faithfully follow Him. Psalm 14:7 speaks of the LORD’s restoration of the fortunes of His people. The Lord will restore your fortunes, and you will rejoice and be glad once more. Great joy is waiting for you! You will experience divine restoration.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your heart to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself, and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your heart. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church. There, they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner, and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me, and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I invite Jesus into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You must join a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Father, forgive me for the sins that have caused me losses. Restore my fortunes, Father, as streams renew the desert. Let my tears turn into shouts of joy. Let my weeping turn into singing and my sowing yield great harvests. Father, let the restoration of my fortunes be like a dream. Fill my mouth with laughter and my tongue with songs of joy.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
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