Turn to ME, While There is Time

Good Morning, Ekklesia Family!

Let’s turn our hearts to the Word of God this morning and reflect on Joel 2:12-13 (NLT):

“That is why the Lord says, ‘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.”

In this passage, the prophet Joel delivers a message directly from the heart of God—a call to return, a call to genuine repentance. God is not interested in empty rituals or outward expressions that lack true devotion. He desires our hearts, broken and contrite, fully surrendered to Him.

Joel was speaking to a people who had wandered from God, who had placed their trust in things other than Him. But God, in His mercy, wasn’t calling them to shame but to restoration. The tearing of garments was a traditional sign of mourning in ancient Israel, but God calls for something deeper—a tearing of the heart, a true inner repentance.

God’s nature, as described here, is one of mercy, compassion, and unfailing love. He is not quick to anger but eager to forgive. This is the heart of God towards us today, just as it was towards Israel then.

In our own lives, how often do we find ourselves drifting from God, caught up in the busyness or the distractions of life? Perhaps we’ve been relying on our own strength, or we’ve allowed sin to creep into our hearts. The call today is to return—to turn back to God with our whole hearts.

This means more than just saying sorry; it means a deep, inner transformation, a change of direction in our lives. It means coming to God in humility, acknowledging where we’ve fallen short, and trusting in His boundless love to restore us.

No matter how far we’ve strayed, God is always ready to welcome us back with open arms. He longs to pour out His mercy on us, to renew and refresh our spirits.

Let us pray together:

Heavenly Father, we come before You with open and humble hearts. We acknowledge our need for You, and we ask for Your forgiveness for the ways we have wandered. Lord, tear our hearts and transform us from the inside out. We thank You for Your mercy and compassion that are new every morning. Draw us closer to You, and help us to live in a way that reflects Your love and grace. Unite us as a family in Your Spirit, and let Your light shine through us as we walk in Your ways. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you’re feeling the nudge of the Holy Spirit to go deeper, to commit or recommit your life to Christ, we invite you to join us at Ekklesia Christian Life. Together, let’s walk this journey of faith, encouraging one another as we grow closer to God. Visit us at [ekklesiachristianlife.org](https://ekklesiachristianlife.org), and remember, UareLovedmorethanUknow.

Blessings to you, Ekklesia Family, and may your day be filled with His peace and presence.

Pastor Stephän Kirby