When driving somewhere, turns are required.
Sometimes, I believe I can figure out my destination without directions. Once, we took our two grandsons to a kid’s museum. After thirty minutes of driving down the same road—which I thought was the right way—we stopped for directions. I should have turned four miles back. Had I, we would have already been there.
King Solomon finished building God’s temple and challenged Israel to turn from their wicked ways and back to God. If they did, God would consecrate the temple and listen to their prayers. But if they sought their own ways and other gods, He would uproot Israel from the land He had given them, reject the temple, and bring disaster on them.
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. As with driving, we need directions for life, and this verse gives God’s. We must turn toward Him through humility, prayer, and seeking. Humility admits God is sovereign and means being selfless and attentive to God. Prayer is talking to God on a regular basis with specific requests, asking Him to help us with our turns. Seeking Him is making a defined turn back to Him as we continue to follow His directions and show our willingness to remain obedient.
Godly change requires intentionally turning in a new direction. Sometimes, we stay straight and miss our exit. We stay on the easy main highway and never go back to see what God may have had for us. Our turn must be a turn in a new direction and off the main highway. Through prayer and time in God’s Word, we can ask God for directions so we can make the right turn.
Have a time of reflection to help your mind slow down from the daily grind, rut, routine, and rat race. Ask God to show you where He may want you to make a turn.
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Dale Hansen is retired and spends his time reading, running, mentoring, and watching his grandkids. He enjoys leading small Bible study groups, which he has done for more than thirty years. Dale is working on publishing his first book, One Week at a Time: A 52 week Bible Devotional. He is married and has two married daughters and three grandsons. He lives in Joliet, Illinois. Additional information and timing on his book can be found at: www.groundedandgrowingweekly.com.