Repentance

restores and renews our intimacy with the Lord.

As a Christian, I am not perfect.
I sin. Some I know of and some I am unaware.
Those that I know, I told God and asked for forgiveness.
But some sins I struggle.
My mouth confesses the sin but my actions are not showing.
It is like just nodding in polite agreement with God,
and continuing the same way we are going.
It is only when we truly agree with God about what is right,
our behavior will follow.

The Daily Bread message on July 25th uses a great metaphor.

"Like a car, we go in the direction we are pointed.
So when we truly turn our minds and hearts toward God,
our actions change accordingly."

And on July 27th, the messge was: God's Heart Revealed

"It’s easy to think of God as a divine fly-swatter, just waiting for you to land so that—whap—He can nail you for your sins. But that’s not what we see in Revelation 2–3 in His letters to the seven churches. The pattern of the letters demonstrates God’s loving heart for wayward people."

O Lord, I pray for a pure heart and steadfast spirit within me.
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified hen you judge.
Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conveived me.
Surely you desire truth in the inner parts;
you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to e the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.

Amen.