The Beauty of Repentance

I'm so glad you are here! I hope during your visit you get a glimpse of God's heart for we become what we are gazing at. I pray that God refreshes you and gives you readiness to persevere in what He has for you today.  My desire is to be a blessing to you in helping you know God more and make Him known so I've made these Resources available to you and have the Missional Living blog tab for practical ideas of how to live on mission right where you are. 

Don't you just love stories! Story helps me feel like I'm there, like I can understand and feel what the people might be going through. That's why I love Judges so much. Story after story of God intersecting lives. So, in bite size pieces I've been writing my way through Judges sharing glimpses of God's heart and character. To check out the entire series so far head on over the the Judges Devotional.

The Beauty of Repentance

"The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin and the house of Ephraim; and Israel was in great distress. Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD, "We have sinned against you, forsaking our God and serving the Baals." The LORD replied, "When the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, the Sidonians, the Amalekites and the Maonites oppressed you and you cried to me for help, did I not save you from their hands? But you have forsaken me and served other gods, so I will no longer save you. Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble!" But the Israelites said to the LORD, "We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best, but please rescue us now." Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the LORD. And he could bear Israel's misery no longer. When the Ammonites were called to arms and camped in Gilead, the Israelites assembled and camped at Mizpah. The leaders of the people of Gilead said to each other, "Whoever will launch the attack against the Ammonites will be the head of all those living in Gilead." Judges 10:9-18

There are so many examples in Scripture of people who say sorry. Saul (in 1 Sam. 15) after he spared the Amalekites sheep and cattle as well as King Agag justifying himself, claimed he did nothing wrong. After Samuel shows him how he had disobeyed the Lord he then turns the finger on the soldiers basically saying, 'It's their fault!' Samuel corrects him again and then he said, " Saul replied, "I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel..." Saying sorry so you don't experience the consequences of your sin is not real repentance.


The Israelites said sorry to God much like Saul had. Lip service because they were scared of the consequences. They were more sorry they wouldn't experience the blessing of God than they were sorrowful for their sin. This false repentance comes from a low view of God. It is the fruit of "God exists to serve me" mentality.

And I just love God's response, " Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble!" I love how He can't be tricked. He knows our hearts.

But...
when their actions met their words God was pleased and could not bear their misery any longer. True repentance, a change of heart leading to a change of action moves the heart of God. 
How crazy is that! It moves the heart of God. If you've ever wondered what causes God to act, what motivates Him to action, here it is. It's what He finds irresistible. It's what He deeply and passionately loves. It's what He finds beautiful. And we, His creation has opportunity to give it to Him. Wow!
Oh Lord, I know that You have forgiven all my sin past, present and future the moment I surrendered my life to You. Thank You that our relationship can never be broken. Thank You that You sealed me with the Holy Spirit who is the guarantee of my inheritance. But Lord I also know that when I sin it breaks my fellowship with You. I am sure that so often I just pay you lip service in saying sorry or try to justify and point the finger. Oh Lord, please convict me when I need convicting and help me live a life of true repentance that I might be a fragrant offering pleasing in your sight. 

If you haven't already,  Subscribe to receive a FREE copy of the Life Purpose Plan; discovering how your uniqueness, current reality and the mission fit together for the glory of God. 

And if like this post will you like on facebook and share? 

I'm linked up with the beautiful ladies at  A Holy Experience, The Beauty in His Grip, Nebraska Graceful, 
The Wellspring

Gifts I'm thankful for:
#338 Examples of all kinds in Scripture of people falsely and truly repenting.

#339 My little boys starting to read. Asher reading his first 5 books and Uriah reading words.
#340 The bible studies I am leading this semester.
#341 And getting to lead one with my friend Gloria
#342 The opportunity to write a guest post for Michael Hyatt (whether he chooses it or not)
#343 Finding my ministry resource jump drive
#344 Great videos that glorify God
#345 The ability to learn.