About Face: Choosing the Right Path
I talk often about living life on THE PATH, a life marked by clarity, obedience, and purpose. But the real question most people wrestle with is this: How do we get on the right path in the first place? And once we realize we’re off it, how do we change direction?
Psalm 51:1–2 (NLT) gives us a clear starting point:
“Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love.
Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sin.
Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.”
David isn’t just asking for forgiveness here. He’s showing us what it looks like to take responsibility, realign, and move forward. I believe he’s identifying three critical steps for any man who wants to get back on the right path.
1. Own What’s Out of Alignment
The first step is acknowledging sin.
This is often the hardest part of leadership, looking inward and calling things what they are. It means pulling back the curtain, letting the light in, and admitting where we’ve missed the mark.
You can’t course-correct what you refuse to confront. Ownership is the beginning of growth, and humility is the foundation of strength.
2. Accept the Consequences and Learn from Them
The second step is being willing to accept the consequences of our choices.
That doesn’t mean staying stuck in guilt. It means understanding that consequences are often the classroom God uses to shape us. When we shift our mindset from “I have to face this” to “I get to grow through this,” everything changes.
God doesn’t waste pain. He uses it to build maturity, wisdom, and endurance, qualities every strong leader must develop.
3. Repentance Is a Direction Change
The third step is repentance, and repentance means turning around.
In the Roman military, the command “about face” meant an immediate 180-degree turn. No debate. No delay.
Repentance works the same way. It’s not just feeling regret, it’s choosing a new direction. When we repent, we step off a path that leads to destruction and onto a path that leads to freedom, clarity, and purpose.
Learning to Turn Takes Practice
I remember learning close order drill in boot camp. When the command “About face!” was given, we were expected to turn while moving.
Early on, it was messy.
Some of us didn’t turn far enough.
Others turned too far.
Some missed the command entirely.
But the drill instructors didn’t quit on us. They corrected us, trained us, and held the standard. Over time, we learned to move together, disciplined, aligned, and unified.
That’s exactly how God works with us.
Walking in Step with God
God doesn’t abandon us when growth feels awkward. He trains us. He corrects us. He walks with us as we learn to move in step with Him.
Walking THE PATH takes time, discipline, and commitment, but if we stay faithful, we will grow stronger, more aligned, and more effective.
That’s what a life of leadership looks like.
That’s what walking the path is about.
