We have become cut off from God because we have sinned.
Behold, Yehovah's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. [Isa 59:1-2]
A major step in responding to God is to repent of all our sinful attitudes and behaviour. To repent means to turn your back on and cease from all your previous attitudes and behaviour that are offensive to God. To repent is far more than just saying sorry. However, God looks at the nature of the heart not the perfection of the performance so in His great mercy He may respond to a simple prayer such as, “I repent of all my sins, please forgive me,” but true wholehearted repentance is not a brief single event but more of a profound and deep lifelong process.
To be soundly reconciled to God it is good to take time asking Him to bring to our minds all those bad attitudes and actions that He wants us to admit to, renounce and turn from. If we are full of pride and denial this can cause us a problem but if we are willing and humble, our conscience will soon tell us what they are. Responding to God in this way gives a lot more depth and meaning when asking Him for forgiveness. Yet wonderfully, the best is yet to come.
God also wants to wash our inner nature clean and renew us so that we no longer have the overwhelming drives that made us do those offensive things in the first place. As He does this He also heals our inner man of the pain and hurt that has haunted us.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [1 John 1:8-9]
God knows we cannot stop sinning of ourselves so He gives us the means to do so. The power of His life in us. This brings mind blowing freedom that transforms your life far beyond what you can do in your own strength. God is awesome!
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