A fresh start begins now

“Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish. (Joel 2:12-13 NLT)

Turn to me now. This is the time. This is the place. There you will find rest. There you will find peace. There you will find hope. When all else around is in disarray and calamity awaits at every turn, there is no other place to turn than to God himself. 

Give me your hearts. So many times, we try to give God everything else other than our hearts. We want him to take our sins, but do we want to seek his righteousness as equally as we desire to be free of their shame? We want to have our lives in order, but do we invite disorder by the things we listen to, watch, or pursue with the heart God so desperately wants to inhabit?

The one who wants God's best will give God their best. This might mean we give up the pursuit of things that really don't add value to our lives. It could mean that we spend more time together as a family. It might even mean we find ways to serve others instead of always looking out for our own interests. When we commit our heart to him (mind, will, and emotions), we aren't just inviting him in for a visit. We are asking him to recenter our focus and take control of our priorities.

Don't tear your clothes but tear your hearts instead - this is a very specific instruction to be genuine in our commitment. Tearing of one's clothes was merely an outward sign of repentance in those days. It served as a 'symbol' of what was supposed to be transpiring inwardly. When one was in deep sorrow, they adorned themselves in sackcloth and ashes. When one repented of their sin, they rent their garments to show their utter and complete desire to 'start over' once again.

That is what repentance is - a starting over again - a fresh start. What so many need more than anything else is a 'reset' of their lives. They need a 'clean sweep' of their mind, a resetting of their will, and a restoration of their emotional balance. When we turn to him for these things, with sincere and committed hearts, we won't ever be disappointed. You may have made many a 'fresh start' with Jesus, but if you need another one, don't hesitate. He stands ready to meet you right where you are. Just sayin!