Acts 3:19-20 (Phillips)
Now you must repent and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, that time after time your souls may know the refreshment that comes from the presence of God.
Secret sin can come between you and God, leaving you feeling dried up and deserted. Confession and repentance open the door to a flood of blessing, refreshment from God. Soak it up!
Good morning, Lord. Thank You for grace — for blessings I don’t deserve. Thank You for Your mercy — saving me from the punishment I do deserve. Teach me to be like You: quick to bless others (even when they don’t deserve it) and slow to jump to conclusions (even when it looks obvious).
Teach me to do to others as You do to me.
“Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, without church discipline, communion without confession, absolution without personal confession.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Nachfolge, 1937
The Cost of Discipleship
Reflect. Confess. Repent.
Good morning, Lord. You are so good to me, it seems like it would be easy for me to be good back. But alas! Even when I put on a good face, my thoughts often wander down ungodly paths … and all too often, my words and deeds follow. You know it all, Almighty God, I cannot hide my thoughts and actions from You.
And yet, You don’t abandon me. Thank You for grace! Teach me Your ways, O Lord, I want to walk in Your truth (Psalm 86:11).
“Repentance is a hearty sorrow for our past misdeeds, and a sincere resolution and an endeavor to the utmost of our power, to conform all our actions to the law of God. It does not consist in one single act of sorrow, but … in a sincere obedience to the law of Christ for the remainder of our lives.”
John Locke (1632-1704)
Good morning, Lord. I sin, and I wish I didn’t. Like Paul, I don’t do the good I want to, and I do the evil I don’t want to (Romans 7:19). Some is habit, some is carelessness and some is deliberate selfishness. Teach me to let go of what’s evil and embrace good in its place. Change my heart, O God!
“Many mourn for their sins that do not truly repent of them, weep bitterly for them, and yet continue in love and league with them.”
Matthew Henry (1662-1714)
Commentary, 1 Samuel 24:16
Repentance isn’t an apology. It’s a life-style change.
Good morning, Lord. Give me ears to hear the truth in Your Word. Give me eyes to see the world the way You see it. Give me a heart to love others as I love myself. Give me wisdom to know right from wrong. Give me the will to walk in paths of righteousness for Your sake (Psalm 23:3).
Matthew 4:17 (NLT)
From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”
Repent, metanoeó in Greek, means “change your mind” (metá is “changed,” noiéō is “think”). To repent is to think differently.
Jesus says, Change the way you think:
Change your mind … for the better!
Good morning, Lord. My early morning quiet time with You equips me for a day filled with foolishness and frustration. If I focus on the craziness swirling around me, I am overwhelmed and fearful. If I focus on You, I am wrapped in a sense of peace. The troubles are all still there, yes! But I can cope and hope because I trust in You.
