Repent

Jeremiah 15:19a “If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me"

Ezekial 18:32b "Repent and live!"

Matthew 4:17 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Acts 3:19 "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord"

Many of us hear the word “repent” and cringe. We picture a fire and brimstone preacher threatening us. Demanding that we repent and be made right with God. It’s shiver-worthy! And also not an accurate picture of our God.

Repentance is the intersection of our humility and God's mercy, grace, and forgiveness. 

Throughout scripture we are warned, exhorted and encouraged to repent, not in fear, but out of God’s tremendous love for us. Repent means to turn from our ways, our beliefs, the beliefs of this world...to change the way we think. To see more clearly where we are at this exact moment. To have our eyes opened to the lies we’ve believed. To see the destruction and chaos that comes from believing those lies and living them out in our relationships. 

Repentance is humbling ourselves, seeing where we have been believing lies, acknowledging that we cannot do this on our own, and then being forgiven and restored in relationship with our mighty God. It’s actually a beautiful gift God gives us because of His kindness. And it opens the door to an even greater and more intimate relationship with Him.

Father, thank You for Your gift of repentance. Your marvelous love that is always reaching out to where we are and drawing us closer to You. Show us the lies we are believing that we may confess them to You and may our eyes be opened to Your Truth so we can agree with You. And instead of the cringy picture of repentance many of us have known, may we see the beauty of Your outstretched arms as we come home to You. Amen.