Jan 21, 2012
The Engine of Spiritual Growth
Posted by Michael Howarth in Gospel Living | Comments (0)
To repent is to turn from and intentionally forsake the disobedience in your life that is dishonoring to God; to turn from those things that God says are destructive to your life; to endeavor by Christ's strength to obey His commands. Repentance is both a single act of spiritual aggression towards a particular sin, and a gradual, lifelong reprogramming of your heart towards God.
Repentance is the engine of spiritual transformation. It is something we practice; however, it is first a gift that is granted to us by God. It is His kindness that leads us to turn from our sin. In this way, repentance should be seen as a thankful response to God’s mercy, not simply a pensive, loathsome meditation on our inadequacy.
We can get so focused on beating ourselves up that we rarely see the other side: Christians are the righteousness of God. Christ became sin and we became righteous. Repentance can, and sometimes should, start in sorrow and pain — but if practiced rightly, it will always lead to exceeding joy.
Posted by Michael Howarth in Gospel Living
