Self-Development; How To Discern True Repentance/ Rashea@LLO2 Academy
True repentance is to change our thoughts, behavior, attitudes, desires, communications and commitments by the renewing of our minds through the Bible. True repentance does not imply a sinless life, but it does imply and require that we sin less. I say this because no human being is without sin not even Christian's.
True repentance is likened to the vision of Ezekiel when he was commanded by God to speak life back into the valley filled with lifeless bones in Ezekiel 37. God said to Ezekiel, "And say to these bones." At the command of God through Ezekiel lives were resurrected and restored.
This is another instance like in Genesis 2:7 that we see the Ruach breath of God being breathed back into the nation of Israel. God is yet resurrecting and restoring lives as we turn our hearts to him in true repentance. God sees our present state of life and breathes the future life of His presence back into us.
We refer to this as grace and salvation. There is a grace and mercy that humanity shows. Then, there is an unmerited grace and mercy that God bestows.
This grace and mercy comes without manipulation, fabrication, deception or toil. This grace and mercy is the result of true repentance that stems from the heart. This repentance does not backbite or point the finger or see the shortcomings of others as an excuse to overlook one's own faults. True repentance is beholding the man in the mirror. Yourself.
The truth is, we will all fall short from time to time, because we live in a fallen world. However, through God's grace and the Holy Spirit, we can live our lives to honor God to the best of our ability. Through leaning on God's Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can be descent human beings.
Ezekiel beheld sinews coming upon the bones and the bodies of the people (Ezekiel 37:8). We can analyze and conclude that God breathes life, gives grace and holds us together. We are fully supported by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.
Repentance is more than gaining eternal life. True repentance empowers us to be fully regenerated and filled with the life and power of the Holy Spirit. Repentance empowers us to live our best life now!
True repentance is not based on performance but a personal relationship with Jesus. When Jesus really lives in our hearts, our desire and our attitude is to honor Him. Why? Because our hearts and minds are turned toward Him and turned in the direction of God.
It is difficult to honor someone you despise or are not connected to. It is difficult to genuinely honor someone you haven't taken the time to get to know or at least hear out without a judgmental attitude. If you haven't taken the time to get to know Jesus through reading God's Word, how will you know how to honor Him?
Repentance isn't communicating that you won't sin from time to time. Blatant sin is different than sinning from time to time. Blatant sin is purposeful sin.
Blatant sin communicates to God that you don't care what He thinks about your actions, thoughts, behavior, decisions, moods, communication or what you commit to. Blatant sin communicates that you are the god of your own life.👀 But if that be so, why call on God to help you when you get in trouble?
The truth is blatant sin seems pleasurable to the sensual appetites and desires of the flesh for a moment, but it cannot fulfill you. It cannot fill the void that you feel on the inside. It only keeps you reaching for the next quick fix. You cannot fix what is broken with placebos. Problems need a cure not a placebo.
God's grace brings us to the presence of Jesus Who then fills our lives with meaning, as we trust Him. True repentance is to fix the issues and improve us a individuals. Are you improving? If yes, then that is a sign of true repentance.
Are you getting closer to Jesus and building a tight knit relationship with Him? If yes, then that is a sign of true repentance. Are you a better person then before? Is there infallible evidence that you have changed your life for the better? If yes, then that is a sign of true repentance.
People will bring up what you did wrong or what others did wrong to you. However, the penalty of your past only counts against you, if there is no true repentance. People will never let you live down what you did wrong or what wrongs others have done to you, but Jesus does when you truly turn to Him and make an effort to improve your life.
THAT'S AWESOME NEWS! Isn't it? The Bible says, "There is no condemnation to those who are found in the grace of Jesus through salvation, because they do not live to blatantly sin against God, but they set their hearts to honor God with how they live (Romans 8:1-3)."
True repentance begins in your heart. When your heart changes, your attitude and behavior will change. How you think and communicate will change. What you commit to will change.
Why? Because now you have the nature of Christ dwelling within you. The Apostle Paul said, "Follow me as I myself follow Christ (1Corinthians 11:1)." You have the nature of the heavenly Father dwelling within you. Ephesians 5:1 encourages us to imitate the nature of God as dear children.
True repentance assures us through the Holy Spirit that we are the children of God and joint heirs of Jesus. Jesus is God's dear Son. Moreover, we are, also, God's dear children through faith in Jesus (Romans 8:16-17).
True repentance is not the absence of a penitent spirit. A heart that is truly desiring to improve is humble. God bestows grace to the humble (1Peter5:5-6).
Haughtiness and a prideful heart is not of God. Haughtiness and pride (conceit, egos, arrogance) comes from the devil. God resist the proud and esteems the humble.
True repentance is me personally taking the time to acknowledge God in all areas of my life. True repentance is asking the question, how can be a better person? True repentance requires soul searching to become more like Jesus.
Rashea@LLO2
