Repentance

This past weekend was our Cru Leadership Retreat where we learned about the upcoming year, cast vision, and planned with each of our ministry teams. It is amazing to see the passion for God in this year's leaders, and I am so excited to see how He uses us. The theme for the weekend was Repentance, Renewal, and Rejoicing, so we talked a lot about the importance of our personal walks with the Lord and experiencing renewal and rejoicing through that. It's great to be reminded that growing in our relationship with God comes before our ministry. Even though expanding God's kingdom is a crucial part of Christianity, it is meaningless if we do so with an empty cup.

Anyway, something hit me about repentance. I was praying that God would speak to me, that He would show me what He wanted me to learn, or give me a vision for my ministry this year. I became frustrated when I just couldn't hear what He was saying or if He was even saying anything at all. Duh! One big problem: I was approaching God as a filthy sinner. I hadn't laid down my imperfections at His feet. Only then will He cleanse us from our unrighteousness and place His blanket of pure righteousness over us.

"This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:22-24).

Only then can we stand before Him and ask. So often we jump straight to what we want and forget to give God what He wants. Jesus tells us that we must repent to have eternal life.

"But unless you repent, you all too will parish" (Luke13:3b).

Over and over again, we are taught to turn away from sin, to turn away from our evil desires and not give into temptation. In Romans, Paul explains the difference of having our minds set on our sinful desires and the desires of the Spirit.

"Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of the sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. You, however, are not controlled by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you" (Romans 8:5-9).

When we turn away from sin, we can see more clearly what God wants for our life.

"Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always" (Psalm 105:4).

God is loving and merciful, and He sends forgiveness through repentance. Then we can experience true renewal and rejoicing through Him.

"Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon (Isaiah 55:6-7).