A Repentant Heart
If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that His word has no place in our hearts. 1 John 1:8-10
To be a citizen in the Kingdom of God we must have a repentant heart. There was a time, in my lifetime, when people would practically run to the altar, fall on their knees and cry out to God for forgiveness of their sins. They felt the Holy Spirit drawing them to repentance and freedom from the guilt and shame of their sins. He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of His grace He made us right in His sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life. Titus 3:5-7
Lately, I don't see much true repentance. It seems that people are more concerned with "saving face" as they say. They make excuses and minimize what they have done. They use terms such as "I messed up" "I missed the mark" "I had a moral failure". Phrases like that are rooted in pride.
Take a moment and do this little exercise: Think of something you would consider a sin. Now say these words: "I messed up" "I missed the mark" "I had a moral failure".
Do they break your pride and send you to your knees?
Now say "Lord forgive me! I have sinned! I am so sorry. Have mercy on me and help me to be strong in You!"
Do you feel the difference? True repentance is rooted in humility.
So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew 18:4 True repentance that brings change requires feeling brokenness in your spirit. Then you feel the Lord God's mercy covering you like a healing balm to your soul. "I had a moral failure" doesn't do that so there is not true repentance and healing.
Also, too often the church doesn't want people to feel "uncomfortable" during salvation altar calls and they leave out that uncomfortable part that says, "Lord I have sinned. Please forgive me of my sins and wash me clean again. Make me whole..." They go right to the part that says "Jesus, I accept You as my savior. Come into my heart and save me..." We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in His grace, freely makes us right in His sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins. Romans 3:22-24
Repentance isn't a one time event. It is a lifestyle, one of humility and obedience to our King Jesus. The more your repent to the Lord the easier it will become. Start your prayers with repentance and thanksgiving. Also you will become more sensitive to those prideful substitutes for repentance. They will irritate you more!
One of the reasons David was "a man after God's heart" was his posture of repentance. Yes, David certainly sinned! But he also repented quickly and with great humility. In the Lord God's Kingdom, we should all be this repentant. Hear his heart here:
Have mercy on me, O God, because of Your unfailing love. Because of Your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.
For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Against You, and You alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in Your sight. You will be proved right in what You say, and Your judgment against me is just. For I was born a sinner—yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
But You desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there. Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; You have broken me—now let me rejoice. Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from Your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and make me willing to obey You. Then I will teach Your ways to rebels, and they will return to You. Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of Your forgiveness. Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may praise You. You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering.
The sacrifice You desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. Psalm 51:1-17
That is what a repentant heart does. . . says. . . and feels like in the Kingdom of God. Repentance drives out all pride.
But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. James 4:6-10 NLJV
A repentant humble heart will elevate you in the Kingdom!
About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”
Jesus called a little child to Him and put the child among them. Then He said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew 18:1-4
Deborah Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
All scriptures are NLT unless otherwise noted.
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed. Thank you.
To be a citizen in the Kingdom of God we must have a repentant heart. There was a time, in my lifetime, when people would practically run to the altar, fall on their knees and cry out to God for forgiveness of their sins. They felt the Holy Spirit drawing them to repentance and freedom from the guilt and shame of their sins. He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of His grace He made us right in His sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life. Titus 3:5-7
Lately, I don't see much true repentance. It seems that people are more concerned with "saving face" as they say. They make excuses and minimize what they have done. They use terms such as "I messed up" "I missed the mark" "I had a moral failure". Phrases like that are rooted in pride.
Take a moment and do this little exercise: Think of something you would consider a sin. Now say these words: "I messed up" "I missed the mark" "I had a moral failure".
Do they break your pride and send you to your knees?
Now say "Lord forgive me! I have sinned! I am so sorry. Have mercy on me and help me to be strong in You!"
Do you feel the difference? True repentance is rooted in humility.
So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew 18:4 True repentance that brings change requires feeling brokenness in your spirit. Then you feel the Lord God's mercy covering you like a healing balm to your soul. "I had a moral failure" doesn't do that so there is not true repentance and healing.
Also, too often the church doesn't want people to feel "uncomfortable" during salvation altar calls and they leave out that uncomfortable part that says, "Lord I have sinned. Please forgive me of my sins and wash me clean again. Make me whole..." They go right to the part that says "Jesus, I accept You as my savior. Come into my heart and save me..." We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in His grace, freely makes us right in His sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins. Romans 3:22-24
Repentance isn't a one time event. It is a lifestyle, one of humility and obedience to our King Jesus. The more your repent to the Lord the easier it will become. Start your prayers with repentance and thanksgiving. Also you will become more sensitive to those prideful substitutes for repentance. They will irritate you more!
One of the reasons David was "a man after God's heart" was his posture of repentance. Yes, David certainly sinned! But he also repented quickly and with great humility. In the Lord God's Kingdom, we should all be this repentant. Hear his heart here:
Have mercy on me, O God, because of Your unfailing love. Because of Your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.
For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Against You, and You alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in Your sight. You will be proved right in what You say, and Your judgment against me is just. For I was born a sinner—yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
But You desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there. Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; You have broken me—now let me rejoice. Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from Your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and make me willing to obey You. Then I will teach Your ways to rebels, and they will return to You. Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of Your forgiveness. Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may praise You. You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering.
The sacrifice You desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. Psalm 51:1-17
That is what a repentant heart does. . . says. . . and feels like in the Kingdom of God. Repentance drives out all pride.
But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. James 4:6-10 NLJV
A repentant humble heart will elevate you in the Kingdom!
About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”
Jesus called a little child to Him and put the child among them. Then He said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew 18:1-4
Deborah Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
All scriptures are NLT unless otherwise noted.
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed. Thank you.
