This post was last updated on June 29, 2026

Day 80 (Year 2)

Turning to the True God  

… “They may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God.” (Acts 26:18b NASB)

The word “turn” in the above comes from the Greek word epistrepho, meaning “to cause to return, to bring back, to the love and obedience of God alone with righteousness and wisdom.” I believe that a person who can turn to God needs at least four qualities: the ability to turn; the qualities of pursuing wisdom, righteousness, and love; the ability to think deeply and reflect; and the ability to discern, confirm the light, and submit to God.

Turning is a form of a person’s ability to change themselves. Those who can turn must believe they can choose, acknowledge their past mistakes, and affirm a new choice. In contrast, for extreme fatalists, people have little or no real choice. Even if they do, it has little importance. They might have repeatedly had their freedom of choice suppressed by others during their upbringing, growing up under intense psychological pressure and feeling unable to resist. Such people need first to clear away feelings of helplessness and powerlessness before they can turn from Satan’s power to God’s sovereignty.

Turning also implies certain self-affirmation. We can trust that our choices are real, can be sustained, and can lead to a different life experience. For those who feel bound or trapped by problems, believing that they have the power to choose and to live a different kind of life requires faith and courage. Some need to recover or reclaim the freedom of will that God originally gave to humanity before they can break free. Many feel controlled by their circumstances and struggle to cope with difficulties. But the gospel of Jesus tells us that He will help us break free from all difficulties and controls, and lead us to choose what is good for us. Indeed, some feel happy when things go well and downcast when they encounter misfortune. Jesus desires to transform us from this mindset of depending on circumstances, enabling us to navigate circumstances and even create new environments.

The ability to turn is related to whether a person can readily embrace what is good and persistently hold to it. Following various trends too much makes it difficult to have a strong conviction. Being too rigid makes changing difficult and results in a lack of psychological flexibility. Turning toward goodness, adjusting ourselves appropriately, and thorough thinking are necessary conditions for turning back to the God of light.

Reflection questions:  

1) Do you feel helpless or powerless in your own life? If so, how do you want to address this?  

2) Is your mindset generally one of being controlled by circumstances, or of overcoming difficulties through Jesus? What kind of life do you want to live, and under whose influence?