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“Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.” ‭‭Joel‬ ‭3:14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Valley of Decision

Everyday people make decisions. What to wear, what to eat, or what to do. Decisions can be so difficult at times. There are spur of the moment decisions or decisions that require much thought and time. All of us enter the valley of decision each day.

Relationship Decisions

Some of the more important decisions are about relationships. Who to marry or where to work. The most important decision in our life is regarding our relationship with Jesus Christ. We have a choice, a decision of whether or not to call upon Him.

 Decision to Rebel

The book of Joel is a short book which speaks of the punishment God had in store for His people because of their disobedience. Joel gives the word of the Lord speaking of the plague of locusts. They have consumed everything in their path. Joel 1:12c says, “human joy has dried up”. The people had made a decision to rebel and make ungodly decisions. There was no joy in their lives.

Return to Me

“Now, therefore,” says the LORD, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm.” ‭‭Joel‬ ‭2:12-13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Decision to Repent

The decision the people of Israel needed to make was to repent. God told them through Joel to turn to God with all their heart. Joel says don’t tear (rend) your clothes, tear your heart and return to the Lord. Don’t just change your clothes, change your heart. God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and kind. What a great God we serve! He doesn’t change, He is always the same. God puts up with a lot from us. He still waits patiently for us to repent.

“And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved.” Joel‬ ‭2:32‬a ‭NKJV‬‬

Decision to Call on His Name

God’s hope is that people will hear His call. He desires for people to make the decision to call on His name and be saved. God gives us a wonderful promise in Joel 2:25, “I will repay you for the years that the swarming locusts ate.”

Joel 2:28, “I will pour out My Spirit on all humanity”. Great news for those who make the decision to call on Christ.

“Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, go down; For the winepress is full, The vats overflow— For their wickedness is great.” Joel‬ ‭3:13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Israel’s Rebellion

God gives a warning for those who make the decision to rebel and ignore His call. The winepress is referred to in Revelation as a description of the judgment of Jesus in the last days. There will be a judgment so I encourage each one to make the decision to repent and call on His name. God’s grace and mercy is everlasting to those who are called His.

“I’ll make up for the years of the locust, the great locust devastation— Locusts savage, locusts deadly, fierce locusts, locusts of doom, That great locust invasion I sent your way. You’ll eat your fill of good food. You’ll be full of praises to your GOD, The God who has set you back on your heels in wonder. Never again will my people be despised. You’ll know without question that I’m in the thick of life with Israel, That I’m your GOD, yes, your GOD, the one and only real God. Never again will my people be despised.”  ‭‭Joel‬ ‭2:25-27‬ ‭MSG‬‬

God has a promise for you

Do you feel like your life has been devoured by locusts? God has a promise for you!  2020 has certainly been a year to search our hearts and repent of any sin in our lives.

God promises He will make up for the year of the ‘locust’ in our lives. He promises we will be full of praises to our God. He will cause us to set back on our heels in wonder of how great our God is.

Repent, seek and call on His name and look for the awesome power of God!

Paula Wallace