CHALLENGE #3 - REPENTANCE
Watch the video for the third Sunday of Lent.
(CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO)
The challenge this week is to set aside 30 mintues to engage in the discipline of repentance. For some reason the word "repent" carries some negative baggage with it. I've got a few hunches as to why, but to keep this short I'll keep my opinions to myself. What I'm hoping for this week is that we all gain a new appreciation for what a gift from God and opportunity repentance really is!
CONFESSION = ACKNOWLEDGEMENT/AGREEMENT
REPENTANCE = TO THINK DIFFERENTLY
There's a slight difference between confession and repentance. However, the two work really well together. We read about confession in 1 John together in this week's video. Confession is about acknowledgment and agreement. How great is God? He says if we'll just acknowledge our sin and agree with Him about it that He'll forgive us and cleanse us from it! How good is that?
Repentance goes a little further. We find repentance talked about a lot in the Gospels and in Acts. Repentance is to think differently about something. A change in how we think about something which then causes us to act differently about how we are living our lives.
Set aside a 30 minute block of time. Pick a day, time and location, Then...
- Ask God, in your own words, to shine His light into your life and help you to see things for what they really are.
- Use the following Scriptures to take inventory about the sin in your life. Read slowly, think, and trust that God is answering the prayer you just prayed in Step 1. Jot down thoughts as you go. These lists aren't every possible sin, but they will prompt you to think well about your life.
- The Ten Commandments - Exodus 20:1-17
- Holy Spirit vs Sinful Nature - Galations 5:16-26
- Am I a Loving Person? - 1 Corinthians 13
- Confess. You've got all kinds of thoughts right now after praying and reading these Scriptures. Are you willing to be honest with God? Will you acknowledge and agree with God? Talk to Him about that.
- Repent. Are you willing to make the choice to think and act differently? Think about that and talk to Him about it. Write some things down.
That's all. It that simple!
Repentance is a great gift! God loves you. If you feel at all beat up after thie exercise, that's the enemy. Satan is a liar. He condemns us and tells lies like we are unlovable, or unforgivable, or hopeless. God loves you. Forgives you. Cleanses you. Accepts you. He helps you hit the reset button. Receive that today!