The Gift of Repentance

The Benefits of Repentance

This past season, God has been at work in two specific ways: breaking down my pride and teaching me what "the fear of the Lord" actually looks like. More recently, He has shown me a key commonality between the two lessons: Repentance. Repentance reflects both a humble heart and a heart that fears the Lord. 

To be honest, the word "repentance" makes me tense up. I quickly switch to defense mode. Hold up, I am saved. Jesus forgave my sins once and for all. Why do I need to repent? 

But after hearing what God says about repentance, I now realize that when I refuse to confess my sins, I miss out on many of His blessings. I'm sure we have all read the benefits of repentance, but have we experienced them? Do we take advantage of this gift every day? Although it may not look like it, God's grace and repentance go hand in hand. Repentance is a form of God's grace. 

Repentance displays our deep need for God.

Without repentance, I fight sin on my own, or at least try to keep it under control. I pull the reigns of my wayward heart with my own strength. I attempt to atone for my own sin by "doing better" the next day. In my pride and stubbornness, I forget just how much I need God because I'm too busy trying to be Him. The hard truth of the matter is this: no matter how righteous I feel, I need God's kindness, forbearance, and patience every minute of every day. 

Repentance humbles us before the Lord. Even if our hearts are not completely in it yet, may we admit to the Lord and ourselves just how broken we are until it does become a heartfelt cry. Let's boldly ask God to show us our sin (Psalm 139:23-24) so we do not wander from His straight paths. 

Battling sin is frustrating, we all know it. In fact, it should be. We do the things we do not want to do; who will save us wretched people? Only Jesus (Romans 7:25)! Our fight against sin should always lead us to the foot of the cross. We can't do it on our own. Oh, how desperately we need Jesus! 

"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." James 4:6-8

Repentance acknowledges the great evil in our hearts.

God calls sinners to repent, not the righteous (Luke 5:32). Oh hey, that's us, sinners! Remember, we don't fight against flesh and blood but against the spiritual forces of evil (Eph. 6:12). That's intense stuff and I'll be the first to admit I don't see the world like that. Instead, I downplay sin. I ignore it, justify it, or excuse it, hoping God will too. I forget the consequences of my actions. I forget the power sin can hold over me. 

Sin keeps us from knowing and enjoying God. Sin steals our freedom and our joy. It never keeps its promises. Sin is actually a side effect of unbelief. When we sin, we doubt God’s goodness and provision. How often do you face the great evil inside your heart? Do you hate it? Do you mourn over it? Do you seek it out to kill it? Do you trace it down to its root or pride, doubt, fear, insecurity etc.? Maybe it's time we ask God to help us hate the things He hates and loathe anything that rises up against Him (Psalm 139:21-22). 

Godly grief over our sin pushes us towards the only One who can save us from its destruction (2 Cor. 7:10). May we despise sin because it keeps us from intimacy with our precious Savior. God loves us too much to keep us in our sin. I pray that we would be women who love nearness to our Lord more than we love our sin.  

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." Psalm 51:17

Repentance leads to freedom.

Sin hinders us from running the race set before us. When we keep silent about our sin, it doesn’t turn out well. Trust David on that one (Psalm 32:3). His bones wasted away when He held on to sin, but God promises to refresh our bones when we fear Him and turn away from evil (Proverbs 3:8).  

When we admit our sin before God, trust He is faithful to forgive, and turn from our sin, we are filled with all joy and hope in believing Him. Repentance helps us bear fruit for God’s kingdom. Repentance is the means by which we take off our heavy burdens we've been carrying around and place them on Jesus. Repentance means trading our guilt, shame, and sin for His peace, righteousness, and forgiveness.  

"Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit." (Psalm 32:1-2,6) 

Repentance flows from God’s kindness.

Like Eve, once I sin, out of guilt, I tend to hide from the Lord. I can’t face Him until that guilty feeling is gone. How do I get rid of it? I patch it up with good deeds, self-pity, and self-justification. Yea, that doesn't get me very far. How dare I trample on the cross in that way?

Jesus wants to clean us, He doesn’t want us to clean ourselves. In fact, that’s the whole point of the gospel! We can’t forgive ourselves. Only Jesus pardons our guilt. We go to Jesus just as we are, helpless, dirty, guilty. When we draw near to Him, He draws near to us. He helps us, cleans us, and forgives us. Repentance reminds us just how gracious and good Jesus is. 

We can’t have grace without repentance. We are able to enter into the most holy place and receive forgiveness because Jesus Christ tore the vail! He put the law within our hearts. He is continuously interceding on our behalf.  

Repentance is a gift. When we confess, we don't have to fear God's response. We don't have to apply any cover-up to our blemishes because Jesus already paid the price for our sins once and for all. We can approach God's throne room just as we are, confident in God's finished work on the cross. 

God's chosen and beloved children are free to receive His forgiveness because they are no longer judged by the law but by grace. He wants to lavish more grace upon us. He gently leads us to forgiveness with cords of kindness (Hosea 11) so we can refresh our souls in His Truth: We are forgiven. We are loved. We are no longer slaves to sin. Repentance is how we live out the benefits of the gospel each day.  

"I led them with cords of kindness, with the bands of love, and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them." Hosea 11:4

Challenge

♡ Boldly ask God to show you your heart and humble you before Him (Warning: God may burst your bubble). 

♡ Pray and meditate on Psalm 51 (David’s prayer of repentance after sleeping with Bathsheba). 

♡ After you sin, run immediately to God as your refuge from evil instead of keeping silent. We don't have to be afraid or embarrassed. He wants to display His power and love through our weakness. 

♡ Thank God for His forgiveness that stems from His love, not your actions.  

"I acknowledged my sin to you,
    and I did not cover my iniquity;
I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,'
    and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.
 Therefore let everyone who is godly
    offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;
surely in the rush of great waters,
    they shall not reach him.
 You are a hiding place for me;
    you preserve me from trouble;
    you surround me with shouts of deliverance." Psalm 32:5-7

The Girl ☎︎ Next Door