Turn back to God

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,” Acts 3:19 NIV

In an article published recently titled, “New hobby, old runners: Aging folks take up jogging, turn to marathons and love it,” runner Tim Murphy described the moment more than a decade ago that he vowed to change his life for the better. When Tim Murphy awoke on his 40th birthday, he weighed 265 pounds. Unhappy with his fitness, he vowed to change.“I saw my father taking 20 prescriptions a day and I didn’t want to do that,” Murphy recalled. “Up to that point in my life, I was oblivious [to wellness].” He decided to start running. He liked it. About 10 months later, he completed his first marathon. Today, Murphy is 55 and a seasoned runner. In the last 15 years, he has finished 28 half or full marathons. He currently weighs 183. “It’s a commitment to say you really want to change,” said Murphy, chief executive of Boomers Parks, a Boca Raton, Fla.-based chain of family entertainment centers. “Once you decide to run a marathon, you need to plan properly, eat properly, hydrate enough and keep practicing.”

And you know, it’s easy for a person to say they want to change but actually making the change, as Tim pointed out, takes commitment, dedication and constancy. This is especially true of spiritual change, because as Peter preached, spiritual change requires repentance and conversion which involves a total change in a person’s thoughts and actions from what is sinful to what is good, right, and holy. It’s turning back to God with a wholehearted determination to leave the past behind for good; to not merely “turn over a new leaf” but to become a new creation entirely. You can be sure it’s worth the effort though, because turning "to God" brings new life, total forgiveness and “times of refreshing.” 

So if this has you saying, "I have surely strayed and turned my back on God. What can I do now?" take heart my friend. The words of Peter are actually words of hope. Upon your expression of sincere regret to the Lord for your sin and then turning back to Him, you will be made new and experience the refreshment that comes from true spiritual change. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for not only being the God of second, third and one thousandth chances but for being a God who will always take us back no matter how far we have strayed. Lord, strengthen the resolve of every person reading this that needs to turn back to you to do it today. Remind all of us Lord that there is soon coming a day when there will be no more chances to receive the eternal times of refreshing You have promised all those who repent. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!