True Repentance

Scripture: Psalm 5l:l0...'Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew
a right spirit within me.'

A deeper realization of truly repenting of your sins that it involves a
radical change in your thoughts, affections, and will and to align with
God's righteousness, character, and ways. The change is more than
just modifying external actions, but is a plea to God to create a clean
heart and renew a right spirit in us.

Repentance must be rooted in the realization of how sinful an action,
emotion, belief, or way of life is. Then, one must be grieved by how
offensive and grieving sin is to God, not simply afraid of God judgment
for our sin.

Repentance is a true change of mind and heart about sin, resulting in
a person turning away from sin and seeking to honor God through his
life.

True repentance demostrates that a person understands God's Good
News message of salvation. When people come to grips with the reality
of sin, it's seriousness, and its power, they can truly appreciate what
Jesus did on the cross and how amazing God's saving grace truly is.
Repentance from sin and trusting in Jesus are two sides of the same
coin. No one can say they have true saving faith without any
repentance for sin at the same time.

Repentance will eventually result in a life that honors God.
Acts 26:20 says, 'I preached first to those in Damascus, then in
Jerusalem and throughout all Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that all
must 'repent' of their sins and turn to God and prove they have been
chnaged by the leading of the Holy Spirit in their lives.'
We must remember that 'repentance' continues thoughout the
Christian life. After our defining moment, the same attitude of daily
repentance marks our entire life.

Revelation 3:3 says...'God back to what you heard and believed at
first, hold to it firmly, repent and turn to me again.'
Each day, we should experience heartfelt repentance for any sins we
have committed. We should continually place ourselves on the right
path by owning our sins and turning away from them as they occur.
In closing, I recently read a quote that hits not only repentance but
helps free us from sin's grasp..Listen to these words...
'When you finally realize it isn't about just cutting off sin and
the need for repentance...it's about loving God so much that your desire to sin no longer exists.'

Hallelujah and Amen.