Turn

We have a Satnav in our car which we use for longer journeys and when we are not sure of the route. Quite often, however, I disregard the instructions, thinking that I know a better way! On those occasions, there is a calm voice which says, very politely, “Turn around when possible.” I wonder how often God has needed to say that to us!

As I was praying about the new year, the word “Turn” kept coming to me, and since then I have been pondering on what God might be saying to us through this.

For each of us there is the initial turn-around in our lives that happens when we repent of our sin and of living life our own way, and we turn to Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. This is our conversion, when we are born again. However, God was reminding me that turning to Him is not something we do only once in our lives – it needs to be a daily experience if we are to live in the fullness of all that Jesus has for us.

As human beings, we seem to have a default mechanism in our carnal nature which keeps trying to turn us back to old ways - to living life our way, wanting to be in control, doing what we want, leaning on our own understanding, instead of trusting in the Lord. We seem to turn all too easily to things that will gratify our fleshly desires, looking for comfort in the ‘quick fix’ rather than in the Lord. But it is only as we turn away from those temptations and turn to God that times of refreshing will come from Him, as today’s verse reminds us.

God wants to supply all our needs in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. But we are often facing in the wrong direction to receive from Him! We need to turn away from all those things that distract and tempt us, including everything that offers us false comfort, and turn to the One who loves us unconditionally and who has good things for us.

As the old song by Helen H. Lemmel says:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Let’s make this new year a time of turning!

Prayer: Lord, please forgive me for turning away from You and for looking for comfort in the wrong places. I turn to You now and put my trust in You for all that lies ahead, knowing that You will meet all my needs. Amen.