Time To Turn
Have you ever been driving in an unfamiliar place and you take a turn that you just sensed wasn’t the right turn? Have you ever looked around, searching for a familiar landmark, but you just can’t seem to find one? As someone who spends a lot of their life traveling, my answer to this is a definite “YES!”
Now, what about with your life?
Have you ever stopped and looked at the scenery of your life and felt like the you didn’t necessarily like what you were seeing? Have you ever felt like the scenery doesn’t seem to change, but somehow, you knew that it wasn’t what it was supposed to be? Have you ever wondered when the time would come where you’d leave the place of wilderness and enter into a place filled with life, peace, and joy?
I’m certain that almost everyone could answer “yes” to these questions too.
The Lord recently reminded me of a trip that my husband, Cardell, and I had taken to Las Vegas to attend a conference. We decided to take an extra day to see the majesties Hoover Dam (Side-note: Everyone should definitely see it at least once in their lives if they can.)
On our way back from Hoover Dam to Las Vegas, we turned down a road that started taking us into the desert. Cardell was certain that we were going in the right direction. We didn’t have cell service in this area, so we were just winging it by memory. Right when we turned down this unfamiliar road, I had an uneasy feeling that we were headed in the wrong direction.
At my husband’s insistence, we continued for a good while just driving and driving.
It didn’t take long before we realized that we were heading in the wrong direction. All that we could was desert! Tumbleweeds and all! All of the scenery around us was changing as we drove down that long road that continued leading us deeper into the desert. Finally, I convinced him that we should just turn around and go back the way that we came until we saw something familiar that would take us back to the bright lights of Vegas.
God sometimes reminds me of this day with an instruction to pray for people who just need to TURN.
No matter how long you’ve been traveling down the same road that’s getting you no where, it’s never too late to just turn.
The truth is that sometimes we overcommit to something or to a direction or a plan that we were never supposed to commit to in the first place. When you turn, you change direction and that’s all that you need right now in this moment.
You don’t have to do anything deep; just keep it simple.
Take your eyes off of who and what you’ve been focused on that’s captivated your attention and determined your direction. Turn them on Jesus! What you constantly gaze upon will determine your direction.
Don’t think so? Try looking at something to your left and walk in a straight line.
I think that we can confidently say that your direction will change as you begin to follow Him. And as you follow Him, His direction will take you right to the destination of His perfect will and plan for your life.
In Ezekiel, the Lord gave us the same word. It says that if a wicked man (no matter how long he’s been wicked) turns from sin, then his desire for righteousness will override sin and death. Because he turned, he will live. It also says that if a righteous man turns away from God and turns to sin, then it will bring death.
I encourage you to make the decision to turn and live today! Declare it out loud to Jesus: “Jesus, I choose You! I choose to turn away from ______________ (addiction, pornography, lust, perversion, rage, unforgiveness, offense, etc…) and I choose to put my eyes on You; to follow You! Holy Spirit, teach me how to behold the face of Jesus and lead the way into my new life! I am following after YOU!”