The Turning Point
“… to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning,
and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.”
A treatment center and a recovery program, a citizens group, conferences, academies, and even a donkey rescue organization – the name “turning point” has been adopted by many to try and describe the mission and work they are trying to accomplish in peoples’ lives. Because it’s so appropriate, history likes to use the phrase too, especially in relation to battles and wars. The Battle of Gettysburg had a turning point when Little Round Top was secured by the Union forces. World War II was big enough to have several turning points, with the Normandy Invasion on D-Day being among the most notable. A turning point is that point in time, often during a time of crisis, when a clear breakthrough in the direction of our lives occurs.
A blind man named Bartimaeus had a turning point in his life when, hearing that Jesus was passing by, he began to shout and cry out with all that was within him. Jesus heard his cry for mercy, called him forth, and healed his blindness. And he was never the same! For Jacob, his turning point came when he wrestled with God all night long in prayer, refusing to let go of God until he touched him, changed him, and blessed him. And that’s exactly what happened to Jacob at the end of a long night with the Lord. Moses turned aside to see a bush that was on fire, and the encounter with the Lord that followed changed the course and direction of his life forever. From Ruth and Rahab in the Old Testament to Peter and Paul in the New, God’s people have often experienced a turning point, a specific time in their lives when they broke through into a place of deeper relationship, greater blessing, and divine purpose previously unknown.
If one common piece to the puzzle of experiencing a turning point can be found, it’s in having a fresh encounter with God and receiving a personal revelation from Him for our lives. Isaiah saw the Lord and experienced His presence; Paul saw a light shining all around him and heard the voice of the Lord. You may be reading this feeling like Moses must have after 40 years in the wilderness, wondering if there would ever even be a turning point, wondering if there was anything more ahead. Can I encourage you today that just like General Motors is in the business of making cars, God is in the business of giving new beginnings, and of causing turning points to occur in the lives of His people. Live expectantly, seek Him passionately, and when your turning point occurs, give Him all the glory!!
God Bless,
Pastor Joe
Pastor Joe
Gateway Church
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