Repentance

January 29th – Psalm 51:12

Psalm 51:12

Because of his sins against God, David felt great sadness. His heart ached over the hurt he caused the Lord, his soul heavy with depression. For as the saying goes “nothing causes the cup of joy to spring a leak faster than sin.” David was indeed drinking from an empty cup. His joy replaced with grief over his broken relationship with God. And so he cried out desperately for the Lord to restore the joy of his salvation. Are you in a season of sadness? Are you, like David seeking the gladness that comes from knowing you are deeply loved, wanted, and forgiven by God? Go to Him. Because when we come before the Lord with a heart that is truly sorry and repentant, He forgives, restores, and welcomes us back with open arms. Until we are called home, we will continue to make mistakes. But God is bigger than any sin, and His forgiveness is never ending. And when we, like David, return to the Lord, walking in obedience, love, and gratitude, God is faithful. He promises to heal our hearts, renew our spirits, and overflow our spirits with joy!

January 29th – Psalm 51:12 Read More »

January 19th – 2 Peter 3:9

2 Peter 3:9

As the world grows darker, I find myself crying out more often, “Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!” Because it’s hard for me to understand why He waits. But thankfully, my timing isn’t God’s. And His patient desire for all to come to repentance and receive His gift of eternal life, speaks of His awesome love and gift of change and second chances. It reveals a compassionate Creator who offers the blessings of time and opportunities for transformation. This invites us to embrace change not only in ourselves but in others. All with the understanding that God’s patience grants second chances to every seeking heart. It’s a call to navigate life with hope. Knowing that each moment presents a chance to turn towards God and receive the grace of a second opportunity. In moments of doubt or discouragement, 2 Peter 3:9 stands as a beacon, affirming that change is not only possible but anticipated by a merciful and patient Creator. One who offers us a chance for renewal and a fresh start.

January 19th – 2 Peter 3:9 Read More »

January 10th – Acts 3:19

Acts 3:19

As a machine mechanic, everyday my husband comes home with clothes marked by the grime of hard work. This makes the subsequent grease stains a challenge to remove. And sometimes, hard as I try, his clothes remained stained. Thankfully unlike earthly fabrics, our souls are never too dirty for God to clean. In the divine laundry of His forgiveness, every trace of sin, no matter how stubborn, is washed away completely. For when we come before the Lord with a sorry heart and in true repentance, He comes like a stain stick penetrating deep into the fabric of our souls. Lovingly, He erases every mark left behind by the grime of our wrongdoings. Even the deepest, darkest burden and mistake is cleansed, leaving our souls fresh, renewed, and unburdened from the filth of our iniquities. Repentance is the powerful detergent that leaves our spiritual garments spotless. It’s a transformative act that reminds us of God’s boundless grace and the unparalleled cleansing power found in turning our hearts toward Him.

January 10th – Acts 3:19 Read More »

October 25th – John 1:16

John 1:16

We all sin against God daily. And not just once, but multiple times each day. Some sins we are fully aware of, some we commit without knowing. Thankfully, for those who have received Jesus as their Lord and Savior, we have access to an endless, overflowing source of God’s unmerited favor and love. Through Christ’s death and Resurrection, we are now reconciled back to our Father. That means no matter how many times we screw up, how many times we need forgiveness, when we come before Him with a truly repentant heart God is faithful. Faithful to not only to forgive but forget our transgressions. Never again to remember them nor hold them against us. (Ps. 103:12) For His love, mercy, and goodness are boundless. And His grace is continually poured over us. Always available to help us overcome challenges and give us strength in our weaknesses. Allowing us to live with confidence, gratitude, and an unwavering trust in His abundant love and blessings.

October 25th – John 1:16 Read More »

June 27th – Psalm 130:4

Psalm 130:4

But with You there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve You.

One of the most wonderful things about God’s forgiveness is that it’s not a one and done. Instead it’s a continual process that enables us to approach God with reverence and gratitude. Anytime, anywhere, whenever we sin, God wants us to come to Him in confession and repentance. Our heavenly Father understands our human nature and the struggles we face. And so He lovingly extends His forgiveness to us with open arms. Always inviting us to turn away from our wrongdoings and embrace a renewed relationship with Him. God’s forgiveness is a reminder that His love is greater than our failures. Because of that love, the Lord desires to see us grow and thrive in His righteousness. Through His continuous forgiveness, God offers us the opportunity to experience His transformative power and live a life filled with hope, purpose, and restoration.

June 27th – Psalm 130:4 Read More »

June 17th – Psalm51:10

Psalm 51:10

Create in me a pure heart, O God,and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

When it comes to forgiveness, I absolutely love what Pastor Joe Focht has to say. “There is no more confused message that you and I could give to a lost and dying world than to live in sin and at the same time to tell people about the transforming power of Jesus Christ. God will not use a compromised life to reach a compromised world. God will use a life that is given over to Him. That is a demonstration of the message that through the power of Jesus Christ and His love, He can transform our lives and set us free.” Everyday our lives are testimonies to the world about the love, grace, and mercy of God. And everyday it watches to see if we are practicing what we preach. We each sin daily and are in need of God’s forgiveness. And that’s exactly receive when we come before Him in true confession and repentance. He is faithful to wash away the filth in our hearts and cleanse us with His loving grace. We too should be exampling that same kind of forgiveness to a hurt and darkened world in desperate need of God’s saving grace.

June 17th – Psalm51:10 Read More »

June 13th – 1 Kings 8:34

1 Kings 8:34

then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them back to the land you gave to their ancestors.”

Many times Israel sinned against God. And just as many times God forgave them. Many too are the sins of our country. Like Israel we have disobeyed God, embraced wickedness, and turned aside from the Lord. Yet thankfully, God’s forgiveness is not limited to only the nation of Israel. It’s available to any country that humbly turns to Him, acknowledges its wrongdoings, and seeks His mercy. And our country is in desperate need of repentance and forgiveness. During the dedication of the temple, King Solomon prayed for God’s mercy and forgiveness for the people of Israel when they sinned against Him. We too need to be interceding for our country. Praying our leaders make decisions based on God’s will. That her people will repent from evil, and that God will not remove His hand of blessing from us. Asking God to forgive our transgressions and guide the nation towards righteousness, unity, and peace.

June 13th – 1 Kings 8:34 Read More »

June 8th – Ezekiel 18:31-32

Ezekiel 18:31-32

Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!”

During the Jewish festival of Rosh Hashanah, a musical horn called a “shofar” is blown. And the sound is a wake-up call to “Teshuvah”. Teshuvah is the act of repenting and turning back to the Lord. To give up the destruction of sin and live! Of the many awesome attributes of God, one of the greatest is love. And no more is His love demonstrated than in His gift of repentance. From the beginning, it has always been God’s desire that we all practice “Teshuva” and receive His gift of forgiveness and restoration. His heart aches for the wicked to turn aside from the path of sin which leads to death, and back to Him and everlasting life. Repentance isn’t always easy, but through the power of Holy Spirit, doable. That means we have the ability to not only feel sorry for our sin but to turn aside from that sin. So wake up! The Day of the Lord is near! Blow the Shofar! Repent and Live!

June 8th – Ezekiel 18:31-32 Read More »

June 3rd – Isaiah 43:25

Isaiah 43:25

When someone wrongs us and then genuinely apologizes, the Bible tells us to forgive them immediately. Hard enough. But then God goes one step further and calls us to not only forgive, but to forget. Offering the same complete forgiveness to others that He offers us each day. Because few things are more powerful and transformative than forgiveness. Especially God’s. When we genuinely repent and seek His forgiveness, the Lord offers it freely, and treats us as if our sins never happened. He doesn’t hold our past sins against us or use them as a basis for punishment. And He doesn’t want us to do that to others. God’s forgiveness is an act of divine love and grace, and it brings about reconciliation between us and Him. How thankful are we that out of His unending mercy, God chooses not to bring them up again to condemn us. Instead He grants us a fresh start and invites us into a restored relationship with Him.

June 3rd – Isaiah 43:25 Read More »

May 16th – 2 Chronicles 7:14

2 Chronicles 7:14

As hard as it can be, change is a good thing. Especially when it comes to our walk with God. Even if at times it’s one step forward two steps back, our relationship with the Lord is to be one of perpetual motion. And repentance is just the thing to bring about growth and change. True repentance involves four things. First is humility. When we sin against God we need to come before Him with a truly sorry heart. One that hurts because it hurt God. Next is prayer. Jesus gave His life to provide an open line of communication between us and God. And we need to use it to confess the wrong we’ve done. Third is to continually seek God’s face. This means studying His Word and striving to live according to His commandments. Finally, we need to turn from our wickedness. It isn’t enough to just apologize for the sin we commit. We need to literally change the sinful behavior. If we take these steps, God promises to hear us, forgive our sins, and give us healing, change, and a deeper relationship with Him.

May 16th – 2 Chronicles 7:14 Read More »