Repentance Devotional

Ladies,

How are we doing in our fast? We are in the fifth day of fasting and prayer expecting God for a breakthrough in our lives, marriages, families, churches and nation. One of the things we do in preparing to fast, or as we fast, is to examine our own lives through allowing the Holy Spirit to search our hearts for sin and repenting. The foundation of fasting and prayer is repentance. If we want our prayers to be heard and answered then we need to repent of obvious sin, not so obvious sin and hidden sin.

Ps. 66:17-20 I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue. 18 If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;

19 but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. 20 Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!

Ps. 32:1-6 1 Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

2 Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.

3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.

4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped
as in the heat of summer. Selah

5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD "—
and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah

6 Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you
while you may be found;
surely when the mighty waters rise,
they will not reach him.

The above scriptures inform us that in order for our prayers to be heard we need to acknowledge, repent and turn from our sins.

Confess every known sin that the Holy Spirit brings to your remembrance

· Obvious sins

· Not so obvious sins – “leaving your first love, worldly mindedness, self-centeredness, spiritual indifference, unwillingness to witness, not serving the body of Christ, not spending time in the Word and prayer.

· Sins against our country – failing to vote, complacency on moral and spiritual values, or cheating on your income tax.

· Things that are not pleasing to God. (Ask Holy Spirit to reveal)

o Living according to the flesh or old nature is not pleasing to God so any choice to live according to the flesh as opposed to the Spirit is not pleasing to God.

o Romans 8:8 “Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.”

o Living according to the flesh includes the things described in Galatians 5:19-22

§ Sexual immorality, Impurity, Debauchery

§ Idolatry and witchcraft

§ Hatred, Discord, Jealousy, envy

§ Fits of rage

§ Selfish ambition

§ Dissensions, Factions

§ Drunkenness, Orgies and the like

o Read Galatians 5 and 6 to check yourself with the Word

o Read Ephesians 4,5,6 check yourself with the Word

o Living according to the sinful nature includes getting entertainment and pleasure from the immorality we see on TV, movies, magazines and books.

o Living according to the sinful nature includes addictions of all kinds.

· Examine your relationships – God is all about healthy relationships and “’loving thy neighbor as you love yourself.”

o Is there someone you haven’t forgiven?

o Are you holding bitterness or resentment against someone?

o Have you been gossiping about someone and hurt their name?

o Have your broken confidences

o Have you manipulated a relationship for your own good?

o How are you treating people?

It’s’ interesting how Christ-like we feel we are when comparing ourselves with the world or sometimes other Christians. But then when we read the Word and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to us we realize we’re falling short or missing the mark on many of the things mentioned in the Word. When we compare ourselves with the Word we have sin to repent and turn from.

I John 1:6-10

If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all^[b] sin.

8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

There is no need for condemnation as we are confronted with our sin. We confess – agree with what God says about our sin – it is damaging to our relationship with God, it’s’ displeasing to God – it’s not beneficial to us. We repent (turn from what we are doing and turn to God and following His way). Then God is faithful and just to forgive and purify or cleanse us from all unrighteousness. He does the cleansing and purifying so that we can desire to do His will. Phil 2:13 “For it is God who is all the while at work in you causing you to want to obey and then giving you the power to obey.” (TLB).

We can walk in the righteousness of Christ and then the “effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man or woman is powerful and effective.” James 5:16

Lord, we thank you that you are merciful, compassionate, and patient with your children. Though we sin you do not give up on us. You know our frail frame and that we are made of dust. But you also know the power of your Spirit residing in us and have greater things prepared for us to be and do. Thank you for your blood that cleanses us from all unrighteousness. Open our hearts and minds as we examine ourselves before you. Open our eyes to see the hidden sins that are tripping us up and keeping us from walking worthy of our calling. Protect our minds from the lies or condemnation of the enemy as we are in this process of repentance. Expose every foothold we have given the enemy through an unholy alliance or agreement with his lies. Expose any door, window or crack we have left open to our soul in which we may be oppressed by the enemy. We break any alliance or agreement with the enemy and agree with Your Word – we are free and free indeed. We throw aside the sin that so easily distracts and ensnares us. We choose to walk by faith in obedience to your Word. Thank you for your enabling power called grace to walk in holiness. Amen.