“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.
A perfect gift from our glorious Lord:
John 14:27 (NLT)
I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
Enjoy a peaceful weekend.
Good morning, Lord. Bits and pieces of Your Word are imbedded in my brain. Scripture influences me in ways I don’t even notice. It makes me a better person — kinder, wiser, more compassionate. Thus I should do more Bible study, memorize more verses, meditate more on their meaning. Teach me, fill me, O God!
Jesus had a way with words. Some of them have worked their way into the language of our culture.
Simple phrases spoken 2000 years ago, now used to describe
Even folks who don’t believe in Jesus know what they mean.
Good morning, Lord. What kind of seeds do I sow on a typical day? Where do I sow them? I want to sow good seed onto good ground (Matthew 13). Give me eyes to see beyond myself and spot the opportunities — the fertile ground of hungry hearts, strangers who need encouragement, friends in need of prayer.
Let me leave a trail of sprouting seeds, in Jesus’ name.
