June 21, 2024

Author: Pastor Dave Miner
June 21, 2024

Reading: Ezra 9                                                Optional Reading: Ezra 8, 10
“6 and prayed: “I am too ashamed and disgraced, my God, to lift up my face to you, because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens. [Ezra 9:6 NIV]

In church, you hear a lot about repentance. What is it? How does it happen? What do you do when you repent of your sins?
The word repentance means “to change your mind,” or “to have a change of heart” about something. When you repent, you have a change of heart about your sins. You say, “I no longer want to act that way.” “I want to go in a new direction.” “I am leaving that lifestyle behind.”
God wants us to take a good look at our lives. Sometimes the Holy Spirit will speak to your heart. “Don’t you see that this is bad for you?”
You are faced with a decision. Should you do something about this conviction? Of course you should. You should give up whatever is being pointed at. You should leave it behind.
When you repent of something God says is bad for you, you achieve a great victory for Christ. God wants you to repent, not because he wants to take something good away from you, but because he wants to help you become the best you can become.
Lord, help me to learn to repent of all the things I should not do. Amen.

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