If your life was featured in a magazine article, would you send copies to your family? Would you invite your friends on social media to read it?

If you took snapshots of the difficult seasons of my life, you’d end up with a collage of huge failures and disappointments. How I wish I could relive those years.

Why did I wait so long to come to my senses?

The infamous biblical prodigal son probably asked this same question after squandering all he had and making all the wrong choices on the road to destruction.

But when he came to himself, he said, “How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!” (Luke 15:17 ESV).

The prodigal son lost almost everything, including his reputation, his relationship with his family, his finances and his self-respect.

What about you? Have your choices placed you uncomfortably close to these or similar consequences?

We all have habits or behaviors we hate.

Perhaps you lied to your boss this morning about how much work you’re getting done while working from home. You’ve done a lot more lying lately, and you fear where this now-familiar behavior may be heading.

Or maybe those phone calls to someone who isn’t your spouse started out as purely business, but today, you’re feeling sick about your thoughts and intentions.

Or you’ve stopped having your quiet time with God. You hate to admit it, but you’re beginning to hunger more for worldly pleasures than for pleasing God.

Where are you today, compared to where you were a year ago? Even a month ago? What will it take for you to come to your senses?

• How much more humiliation are you willing to suffer?
• How much more heartache will your family and those who love you have to bear?

One bad choice opens the door to another. Soon you’re entangled in sin.

Eventually you fall for the lie that you can’t change, and you continue down the precarious path.

But no matter how much you’ve sinned, God’s grace is greater. The prodigal son thought he had lost everything, but his father ran to meet him with open arms. This is exactly how God feels about you.

Please don’t wait until you hit rock bottom to repent (confess your sin to God and turn away from it). God’s compassion and grace are real. With God’s help, you can make better choices and live in a way that honors God and gives you a sense of pride and self-respect.

Your next twelve months probably won’t be featured in a magazine, but it could be your best year yet.

What do you think?

I’d love to hear your thoughts about this post. (Your comment might also benefit others.)

• What will it take for you to come to your senses?

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