Evangelist Joshua Orekhie Ministries

EJOM DAILY DEVOTIONAL:

July 19, 2026

Topic: The God of Second Chances

Opening Scriptures

Jonah 3:1–3 (KJV)

“And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days’ journey.”

Memory Verse

Lamentations 3:22–23 (KJV)

“It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”

Praise and Worship

Sing songs that celebrate the mercy, love, and faithfulness of God. Thank Him because He is the God who forgives, restores, and gives His children another opportunity to fulfill His purpose.

EJOM DAILY DEVOTIONAL: July 19, 2026 – The God of Second Chances

One of the greatest expressions of God’s love is that He is the God of second chances. He gives people the grace to start again. He gives us the chances to come back to Him. He shows us mercy again. Our God is a Mercy God. He gives and withold His mercies.

If God should deal with us strictly according to our mistakes, many of us would not be where we are today. We have all made wrong decisions, missed opportunities, spoken wrong words, committed sin, disobeyed God at one time or another, and fallen short of His expectations. Yet, because of His mercy, He did not abandon us.

Many people are living with the pain of yesterday’s mistakes. They believe they have failed too many times. They believe God cannot show them mercy again. They think God has rejected them because of their past mistakes. Some have stopped praying because they feel God will not hear their prayers.

Many have given up on their dreams because they believe it is too late to start again even at their present age. Unfortunately, many people refuse to move forward because they are imprisoned by guilt, shame, condemnation, and regret.

But the Bible declares in Romans 8:1 that there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Once God forgives you, He does not expect you to continue punishing yourself. Once God show you mercy, He does not want you to go back to the sin again.

And once God forgives you, He wants you to learn from your mistakes, grow spiritually, and continue walking in His purpose. Many people would have been dead by now, but the mercy of God preserved them. Many people would have been afflicted with terrible sicknesses and diseases, but the mercy of God preserved them.

Many people would have ended in disgrace, disappointment, or destruction, but the God of second chances gave them another season of mercy, restoration, and hope. If we are still alive today, it is not because we are more righteous than others, but because God’s mercy has continued to speak on our behalf.

Every new day is evidence that God has not finished with us yet. Sadly, many people take God’s mercy for granted. They deliberately continue in sinful lifestyles with the assumption that the God of second chances will always overlook their actions.

They convince themselves that no matter what they do, God will simply forgive them and rescue them from the consequences of their mistakes. This is a dangerous way of thinking. The Bible says, should we continue in sin that the grace of God will abide? God forbid.

The mercy of God should never become an excuse for deliberate disobedience. The Bible teaches that God’s kindness is meant to lead us to repentance, not to encourage us to continue in sin. When a person deliberately and repeatedly indulges in sin while depending on God’s mercy without genuine repentance, such a person is abusing the grace of God.

God desires a broken and repentant heart, not a rebellious spirit that keeps taking His mercy for granted. While God is always willing to forgive those who sincerely repent, He does not approve of those who intentionally continue in sin because they presume that forgiveness will always come automatically.

Genuine repentance produces a changed life. Therefore, whenever God gives you another chance, value it, honour it, and use it as an opportunity to walk in obedience, holiness, and righteousness or to correct your mistakes. Do not abuse the mercy that God has graciously extended to you when others are also looking for the opportunity.

A second chance is not an excuse to continue in sin. A second chance is another opportunity that God gives a person to repent, to return back to Christ, and to correct their mistakes and errors. It is an act of God’s mercy and grace, not a reward for our sinful lifestyle.

The Bible says, Romans 9:15-16, “For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.”

God is the Giver of mercy, and He alone decides whom to show mercy. Every second chance comes from His grace, not because anyone has earned it or has a right to it. No one can demand God’s mercy by right; it is His sovereign gift. When God gives someone another opportunity, it is an expression of His compassion, wisdom, and kindness.

God does not judge merely by the outward appearance of a person’s sin but by the condition of the heart. He sees whether there is genuine repentance, humility, and a sincere desire to turn away from sin. A person who has fallen into a grievous sin but comes before God with brokenness and true repentance may receive mercy and restoration.

On the other hand, someone whose sin appears small in the eyes of men but who remains proud, unrepentant, and hardened in heart may not experience the same mercy compared to the one that committed more sins because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

The lives of David and Saul illustrate this truth. Both men sinned against God. David committed adultery with Bathsheba and arranged the death of her husband, Uriah. His sin brought painful consequences upon his household, yet when David genuinely repented, God forgave him.

Although he faced discipline, God did not withdraw His covenant from him. David remained a man after God’s own heart because he humbled himself and sought God’s mercy instead of making excuses for his sin. When the prophet Nathan confronted him, David acknowledged his sin without making excuses.

He cried out to God for mercy, confessed his guilt, and sought a clean heart (Psalm 51). Although David suffered the consequences of his actions, God forgave him and continued His covenant with him. Saul, however, repeatedly disobeyed God’s commands.

When confronted, he often justified himself, blamed others, and was more concerned about preserving his reputation than truly repenting before God. His heart remained stubborn, and he refused to fully submit to the Lord. As a result, the kingdom was taken from him, and the Spirit of the Lord departed from him (1 Samuel 15:22–29; 16:14).

These two men remind us that God is not looking for perfect people but for repentant hearts. A second chance is not determined by the size of the sin but by the sincerity of the repentance. Neither is it determined by title, name, qualifications, connection or life experiences.

Therefore, never presume upon God’s mercy, and never delay repentance. Whenever God extends His mercy to you, receive it with humility and allow it to produce a transformed life. No matter what happened yesterday, God’s mercy is still available today. His grace is sufficient. His compassion never fails.

As long as there is genuine repentance and faith in Christ, there is hope for you. Perhaps you have failed in your marriage, your business, your ministry, your career, or your relationship with God. The God of second chances is calling you to rise again. He is encouraging you never to judge yourself for your mistake.

He wants you to look unto Him for help. You might have failed to carryout the assignment God has given you. You might have ignored the voices of God many times intentionally. It’s normal to realize your mistakes. But you should acknowledge your sin before God and let Him alone save you by His mercy.

Failure is not the end of your story. Your mistake is not greater than God’s mercy. Your past life cannot stop God from helping you. Today, hear what the voice of God is saying to you, just as He said to Jonah, “Arise…” Your second chance has come. God is not finished with you yet.

There are people who were once prayerful but have become spiritually cold. Some were faithful workers in God’s vineyard but became discouraged and abandoned their assignment. Some had committed serious sin and are regretting it. Others have lost precious opportunities because of carelessness, fear, disobedience, or wrong decisions.

Some are carrying the burden of guilt over past sins and believe God can never use them again. Today’s devotional is a reminder that no matter how far you have fallen, God’s mercy can still lift you up if your heart is genuinely repentant. The story of Jonah clearly demonstrates that God is the God of second chances.

God called Jonah to preach to Nineveh, but Jonah disobeyed and ran in the opposite direction. His disobedience brought a violent storm upon the ship and eventually landed him in the belly of a great fish. It looked as though Jonah’s ministry was finished forever.

However, after Jonah humbled himself, prayed, and repented, God delivered him from the fish and gave him another opportunity to complete the same assignment he had abandoned. God’s purpose for Jonah did not change because of one failure. Instead, Jonah was restored and became an instrument through whom an entire city repented.

Peter also experienced the mercy and restoration of God. He confidently declared that he would never deny Jesus, even if it meant dying with Him. Yet, before the rooster crowed, Peter denied his Master three times, just as Jesus had foretold. Realizing what he had done, Peter was filled with sorrow and wept bitterly.

His failure was painful, and by human standards, it could have marked the end of his ministry and disqualified him from ever serving Christ again. But God’s mercy had the final word in his life. After His resurrection, Jesus intentionally restored Peter instead of rejecting him.

He gave him another opportunity to fulfill the calling that had been placed upon his life. Jesus did not define Peter by his moment of failure but by the purpose for which He had chosen him.

The same Peter who once denied Christ out of fear later stood boldly before thousands on the Day of Pentecost, preaching the gospel with power and leading many to salvation through the work of the Holy Spirit. His story reminds us that one failure does not cancel God’s calling.

When there is genuine repentance, God’s mercy can restore what seemed permanently lost and transform a broken person into a powerful instrument for His glory. Every second chance from God carries a responsibility. It is not merely an escape from judgment; it is an opportunity to live differently.

If God delivers you from an addiction, do not return to it. If He restores your marriage, guard it with love, prayer, and faithfulness. If He heals your body, use your strength to serve Him. If He opens another door after years of disappointment, walk through it with humility and obedience.

One of Satan’s greatest weapons is condemnation. After you have genuinely repented, he continues reminding you of your past to make you feel unworthy of God’s love and service. He whispers that God can never use you again, that your mistakes are too great, and that your future has been destroyed. But these are lies.

God is more interested in your future than your past. If He has forgiven you, refuse to carry the burden He has already removed. Learn from your mistakes, but do not build your home in yesterday’s failures. Walk in the confidence that God’s grace is greater than your past, and His purpose for your life is still alive.

John Mark also teaches us about restoration. During the first missionary journey, he abandoned Paul and Barnabas and returned home. Paul became so disappointed that he refused to take John Mark on another journey. Later, however, John Mark matured spiritually, proved himself faithful, and eventually became so useful that Paul himself requested his companionship, declaring that he was profitable for the ministry.

Failure was not the end of John Mark’s story. The greatest example is the prodigal son. After wasting his inheritance in reckless living, he found himself feeding pigs and suffering in poverty. When he came to himself, he returned to his father with humility. Instead of rejection, he received forgiveness, acceptance, a new robe, a ring, and a joyful celebration.

That is how our heavenly Father welcomes every sinner who genuinely repents. One reason many people never experience their second chance is pride. Pride refuses to admit mistakes. It blames everyone else instead of accepting responsibility. God cannot restore a heart that refuses correction.

The first step toward restoration is humility. When you acknowledge your errors before God and seek His mercy, His grace begins to work in your life. Sometimes, God allows failure not to destroy us but to humble us. Before many people can carry great blessings, they must first learn total dependence on God.

If everything had worked out perfectly from the beginning, some of us would never have discovered the importance of prayer, obedience, patience, and humility. Failure can become God’s classroom if we are willing to learn the lessons He is teaching us.

The life of Samson also teaches us that God is willing to show mercy even after serious failure. Samson allowed his secret to fall into the hands of Delilah. His hair was shaved, his eyes were plucked out, and he became a prisoner of the Philistines. Many thought God had abandoned him.

But the Bible says that the hair of his head began to grow again. That was a sign that God was preparing another opportunity. Samson prayed one final prayer, and God strengthened him to accomplish more in his last moments than in many years before his downfall. Whenever there is genuine repentance, God can restore spiritual strength.

One mistake should never become your identity. Some people introduce themselves by their failures. They constantly say, “I failed in business,” “I failed in marriage,” “I failed in ministry,” or “I disappointed God.” But that is not how God sees His redeemed children. When God forgives, He gives you a fresh beginning. Your identity is not in your failure but in His mercy.

Never allow the devil to use your yesterday to steal your tomorrow. Satan is called the accuser of the brethren because he constantly reminds believers of their past. He wants you to live in guilt instead of grace. But Jesus came so that those who repent can receive forgiveness, cleansing, and restoration.

If God has forgiven you, stop condemning yourself. Learn from your mistakes, but do not remain imprisoned by them. There are people reading this devotional who believe they have gone too far for God to help them. Perhaps you have backslidden, abandoned your prayer life, neglected your Bible study, compromised your faith, or made decisions that have brought shame into your life.

Do not run away from God. Run to Him. The farther you run from Him, the deeper your problems become. The closer you draw to Him, the more you experience His mercy. God also gives second chances in relationships. Some families have been divided by pride and unforgiveness for many years.

Some marriages have become cold because neither husband nor wife is willing to forgive. Sometimes the greatest miracle God wants to perform is not giving you something new but restoring what has been broken. If God is speaking to your heart today, be willing to forgive, seek reconciliation where possible, and allow His love to heal wounded relationships.

A second chance also comes with responsibility. It is not enough to thank God for restoring you; you must guard your restoration. The person who has been delivered from a destructive habit must avoid the environments that encourage that habit. The person whose prayer life has been revived must remain consistent in seeking God.

The person who has been restored to ministry must walk in humility and holiness. Never take God’s mercy for granted. Remember that God’s delays are not God’s denials. Sometimes what looks like rejection is actually divine preparation. Joseph spent years in slavery and prison before entering the palace.

David was anointed king long before he wore the crown. Lazarus lay in the tomb for four days before Jesus called him forth. Human beings may conclude that it is over, but God specializes in situations that appear impossible. Today, refuse to give up on yourself because God has not given up on you.

Refuse to allow failure to become your final destination. Lift up your eyes in faith and believe that the God who restored Jonah, Peter, David, Moses, Samson, Job, and the prodigal son is able to restore you also. His mercy has not expired. His grace has not diminished. His power has not changed.

As long as you are willing to return to Him with a sincere heart, He is able to give you another opportunity to fulfill the purpose for which He created you. Another reason people miss their second chance is discouragement. Some believers have listened to the voice of the devil more than the voice of God.

Satan constantly reminds them of their failures and tells them they are finished. But God’s Word reminds us that where sin abounds, grace abounds much more. The enemy wants you to remain in condemnation, but God wants you to walk in repentance and restoration.

You must also understand that although God forgives, He expects transformation. A second chance is not permission to return to the same sinful lifestyle. If God delivers you from addiction, do not go back to it. If He restores your marriage, protect it with love and faithfulness.

If He opens another door after disappointment, walk through it with wisdom and obedience. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is still the God of second chances. He has not forgotten you. He can restore your joy, rebuild your life, renew your strength, reopen closed doors, and reposition you for His divine purpose.

Do not waste the opportunity He is giving you today. Receive His mercy, walk in obedience, and allow Him to write a new chapter in your life. Your best days are still ahead because God’s grace is greater than your greatest failure.

One truth every believer must understand is that God’s second chance does not always restore you to where you were; sometimes it takes you to a place far greater than where you would have been. God’s restoration is not merely about recovering what was lost. It is about positioning you to fulfill His original purpose for your life.

The enemy may have delayed you, but he cannot cancel what God has ordained for you. There are many people who are living with regret. They regret the opportunities they wasted, the people they hurt, the wrong decisions they made, the jobs they lost, the relationships they destroyed, or the years they spent living outside the will of God.

The devil enjoys reminding people of their failures because he knows that a discouraged believer is often an ineffective believer. He wants you to believe that God is angry with you forever, that your prayers will never be answered again, and that your destiny has been permanently destroyed. These are lies.

The cross of Jesus Christ is proof that God’s mercy is greater than man’s failure. If there was no hope for restoration, there would have been no need for Calvary. However, you must never abuse God’s mercy. Some people deliberately continue in sin because they assume God will always forgive them.

This is not the purpose of grace. Grace empowers us to live in obedience, not in rebellion. Every second chance from God should produce a greater commitment to holiness, faithfulness, and righteousness. The person who has truly encountered God’s mercy will hate the very sin that almost destroyed him.

There are also people who have received a second chance but failed to recognize it. Every new day you wake up is another opportunity to serve God. Every breath you take is evidence that heaven has not given up on you.

Every open door, every divine connection, every opportunity to repent, every chance to pray, every message you hear from God’s Word is another invitation from God to start again. Never despise the small opportunities God places before you today. Great destinies are often rebuilt through small acts of obedience.

Perhaps you have lost your passion for prayer. God is saying, “Come back.” Perhaps you no longer enjoy reading the Bible as you once did. God is saying, “Come back.” Perhaps you stopped attending fellowship because of disappointment.

God is saying, “Come back.” Perhaps you abandoned the ministry God entrusted to you because of criticism, betrayal, or lack of encouragement. God is saying, “Come back.” His arms are still open to everyone who sincerely desires to return. Sometimes God gives us a second chance through people.

He brings destiny helpers into our lives to encourage us, correct us, mentor us, or open new doors for us. Do not reject the people God sends simply because they do not appear in the way you expected. Your next opportunity may come through a conversation, a recommendation, a correction, or even a rebuke.

Wise people recognize God’s hand even in unexpected situations. Remember that God is not looking for perfect people; He is looking for available people. Noah was not perfect. Abraham was not perfect. Moses was not perfect. David was not perfect. Peter was not perfect. Yet God used them mightily because they surrendered their lives to Him.

Do not wait until you think you are good enough before serving God. Come to Him as you are, allow Him to transform you, and let His grace perfect everything that concerns you. If God has given you another opportunity in your marriage, cherish it. If He has restored your health, use your strength to glorify Him.

If He has blessed your business after a season of hardship, remain faithful in your stewardship. If He has restored your ministry after a period of spiritual dryness, serve Him with humility. Never forget where He brought you from. A grateful heart will protect the blessings that God has restored.

Beloved, your story is not over. The final chapter has not yet been written. Men may have written you off, family members may have rejected you, friends may have abandoned you, and society may have concluded that nothing good can come from your life.  But the opinion of people can never cancel the purpose of God.

As long as there is life, there is hope. As long as God is on the throne, restoration is possible. Therefore, arise in faith today. Shake off the dust of failure. Refuse to live under the shadow of yesterday.  Believe God’s promises, obey His instructions, and walk confidently into the future He has prepared for you.

The God of second chances is still opening doors that no man can shut. He is still restoring wasted years, rebuilding broken lives, healing wounded hearts, reviving good dreams, and lifting those who have fallen. Your second chance has come, do not waste or abuse it again.

PROPHETIC DECLARATION

I declare that the mercy of God will speak for you today. Every door that was closed because of past mistakes shall be opened by the grace of God.

The Lord shall restore every lost opportunity, every delayed blessing, and every abandoned dream in your life. Every spirit of guilt, condemnation, regret, and hopelessness shall lose its power over your life.

Where people have written you off, God shall announce your restoration. The Lord will remember you for good and reposition you for His divine purpose.

Your past shall no longer determine your future. The God of second chances shall visit you with uncommon favour and restoration. This season, your tears shall become testimonies, your shame shall become honour, and your disappointments shall become divine appointments. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Daily Reflection (Ask Yourself)

• Have I allowed guilt or regret to keep me away from God?
• Is there an area of my life where God is calling me to begin again?
• Have I truly repented, or am I only sorry because of the consequences?
• What opportunity has God given me that I should not waste again?
• What practical changes must I make to honour God’s second chance?

Personal Challenge

Identify one area of your life where you know God has been calling you to return to Him. It may be your prayer life, Bible study, holiness, marriage, ministry, finances, or your relationship with others. Make a deliberate decision today to obey God. Do not postpone your repentance or your obedience. God’s second chance is valuable—use it wisely and do not return to the mistakes He has delivered you from.

Wisdom for Today

“God may forgive your past in a moment, but your future depends on what you do with the second chance He gives you.”

Evangelism Challenge

There are many people who believe God can never forgive them because of their past. Share the message of God’s mercy with someone today. Let them know that through Jesus Christ there is forgiveness, restoration, and a new beginning for everyone who truly repents and believes.

Prayer Assignment (Morning)

1. Father, I thank You for Your mercy that gives me another opportunity to serve You, in the name of Jesus.

2. O Lord, let Your mercy speak for me where judgment is waiting for me, in the name of Jesus.

3. Every opportunity I have lost through ignorance and disobedience, be restored by fire, in the name of Jesus.

4. Father, forgive me for every sin that has delayed my blessings and destiny, in the name of Jesus.

5. Every power using my past mistakes against my future, be destroyed by fire, in the name of Jesus.

6. O Lord, give me another chance to fulfill the purpose for which You created me, in the name of Jesus.

7. Every spirit of regret, guilt, and condemnation assigned to weaken my faith, die by fire, in the name of Jesus.

8. Father, let every wasted year in my life be restored according to Your promise, in the name of Jesus.

9. Every closed door that God has ordained for me to enter, open by fire, in the name of Jesus.

10. O Lord, restore every blessing I have lost through carelessness and wrong decisions, in the name of Jesus.

11. Every evil voice telling me that I don’t deserve second chances, be silenced forever, in the name of Jesus.

12. Father, let Your favour locate me where I have been rejected many times, in the name of Jesus.

13. Every power assigned to make me repeat the mistakes of my past, die by fire, in the name of Jesus.

14. O Lord, restore my spiritual fire and renew my love for Your presence, in the name of Jesus.

15. Every satanic delay working against my destiny, be terminated today, in the name of Jesus.

16. Father, let every abandoned blessing return to me by Your mercy, in the name of Jesus.

17. Every curse of failure at the edge of breakthrough, be broken by the blood of Jesus, in the name of Jesus.

18. O Lord, restore every good thing that the enemy has stolen from my life, in the name of Jesus.

19. Every power saying I will never recover from my past, be put to shame, in the name of Jesus.

20. Father, grant me the wisdom to make the right decisions from today forward, in the name of Jesus.

21. Every spirit of discouragement and hopelessness, release me and die, in the name of Jesus.

22. O Lord, let my destiny receive divine acceleration after every delay, in the name of Jesus.

23. Every evil mark attracting disappointment into my life, be wiped away by the blood of Jesus, in the name of Jesus.

24. Father, connect me with the right people who will help me fulfill my divine assignment, in the name of Jesus.

This daily devotional is a ministry outreach of Evangelist Joshua Orekhie Ministries (EJOM), dedicated to strengthening your faith, deepening your relationship with God, and equipping you to live a victorious Christian life through the power of God’s Word and prayer.