A U-Turn to You

“The people of Israel were assembled with fasting and in sackcloth, and… the Israelites separated themselves and stood and confessed their sins…  And they stood up and read from the Book of the Law… for a quarter of the day; for another quarter of it they made confession and worshiped the Lord their God… They cried with a loud voice to the Lord…

“’You are the Lord, you alone… You are the Lord, the God who chose… Abraham. You found his heart faithful before you… And you have kept your promise, for you are righteous.

“You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt and heard their cry at the Red Sea, and performed signs and wonders… And you made a name for yourself… And you divided the sea… By a pillar of cloud you led them, and by a pillar of fire to light for them the way they should go. You came down on Mount Sinai and… commanded them commandments… You gave bread from heaven for their hunger and brought water out of the rock for their thirst…

“But they acted presumptuously and stiffened their neck and did not obey… But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them… 

“Now, therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love,.. you have been righteous in all that has come upon us, for you have dealt faithfully and we have acted wickedly.” Nehemiah 9:1-4,6-17,31-33

The wall was completed and doors set in place, making room for people to populate Jerusalem again. But when the Book of the Law was read, conviction descended. The more the people heard and saw of the Lord, the more clearly they recognized their errant ways that had dictated much of their recent history. Their only reprieve and consolation was God’s mercy. (Nehemiah 7:1-5; 8:18-9:3)

Consumed with self, we harden to the Lord’s truth. We either think too much and highly of ourselves, or turn inward with similar preoccupation to shame and loathing. Both are all about me. On the contrary, focusing on You– the holy God Almighty- compels the heart to make a U-turn. His light invades, His grace convicts, His mercy makes tender, His love cleanses.

Often, consumed with personal activities and agendas, we don’t take time for God’s word at all. We’ve relegated it as obsolete or unimportant. We evade its probing light. We justify long-ago study as sufficient, or we presently opt for pressing and preferred things. We might fear accountability, or choose lazy and make inane excuses when asked or encouraged. (Proverbs 26:14)

In order to make a U-turn in relationships, habits, or behaviors, we must first take that turn to the word. It is powerful for teaching and correcting, and will have its good way with us once we open ourselves to its living truths. Will we make it a priority this day, this week? (2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:12)

Where has God identified that we need a change in priority, attitude, or behavior? In what areas or practices is His truth convicting, and what will we do about it? How has the light and cleansing water of His word transformed outlook, desire, and practice?

Father, turn and keep me on Your right road, always looking toward and learning from the true north of Your word, to Your glory.