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Repentance

“But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.” Nehemiah 1:9 KJV

“Where are we?” “How did we get here?” “Will you take a look at the GPS and be sure we have the right directions?” (GPS voices: “Make a U-turn in 200 feet”). If you have ever drove or rode with someone heading in the wrong direction, this conversation may sound familiar. Heading the wrong way can be fixed by ensuring the right directions have been entered or making the U-turn in 200 feet. Though road trip destinations are easier to envision, our options of eternal destinations are sure. When we are headed in the wrong direction, God’s goodness communicates to us through “road signs”, making us aware that we are headed in the wrong direction. His grace provides exits to get us turning around and permits instant U-turns. God’s Positioning System knows exactly where we are and our proximity to the expected end God has for our lives. When hearing about the distressed state of Jerusalem, Nehemiah’s soul ached. What he heard alerted him that a turn back to God was needed. His initial response to this news was to pray and fast, confessing his sins and the sins of his people. As he turned to God, God turned to him and led him to repentance. He made a turn to serve the people of God, and point them to not just having godly sorrow, but to act by turning away from their wicked ways and back to God. True repentance brought them to the destination of God’s promised blessings.

Written By: Elder Litney Gray