Tag Archive | repentance

Not My Fault

Jul29

Yet you said, ‘I am innocent; Surely His anger is turned away from me.’ Behold, I will enter into judgment with you Because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’ Jeremiah 2:35 NASB

Isn’t that our first inclination, to put blame elsewhere? God’s judgement upon the world is not “my fault”. And yet the decline in morality, salvation, growing churches, is not because of disobedient believers, is it?

Let us lie down in our shame, and let our humiliation cover us; for we have sinned against the Lord our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even to this day. And we have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God.” Jeremiah 3:25 NASB

Did God not instruct all believers to go make disciples?

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19‭-‬20 NASB

Could it be our disobedience to God that we see the world in mass chaos?

“For My people are foolish, They know Me not; They are stupid children And have no understanding. They are shrewd to do evil, But to do good they do not know.”
Jeremiah 4:22 NASB

Where does your mind wander when you look at the turmoil around you? Does your mind turn toward your own self preservation so that you will do whatever it takes, including evil, ungodly action for yourself? Or is your spirit stirred within you to turn toward God where you will find true preservation?

What is the solution?

Wash your heart from evil, O Jerusalem, That you may be saved. How long will your wicked thoughts Lodge within you? Jeremiah 4:14 NASB

My soul, my soul! I am in anguish! Oh, my heart! My heart is pounding in me; I cannot be silent, Because you have heard, O my soul, The sound of the trumpet, The alarm of war. Jeremiah 4:19 NASB

Are you listening?

O Lord , do not Your eyes look for truth? You have smitten them, But they did not weaken; You have consumed them, But they refused to take correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; They have refused to repent.
Jeremiah 5:3 NASB

Are you ready to turn back to God and follow Him in obedience?

🌹Repentance is necessary for restoration.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

The LORD Spoke

Jul28

The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention.
2 Chronicles 33:10 NASB

These are some of the saddest words. “The Lord spoke but no one paid attention”.

THE LORD SPOKE BUT NO ONE PAID ATTENTION!

Do you hear the Lord speaking today? Your Creator speaks. He speaks by means of His Holy Spirit through the word (Bible), prayer (conversation with the Lord) and events happening around. Look around you. What do you see? Has God’s church, His people, turned their backs to Him? Sought their own way?

“Have you not done this to yourself By your forsaking the Lord your God When He led you in the way? Jeremiah 2:17 NASB

God’s church needs to return to Him. His way. His will be done. Bow down before our God in repentance and seek Him. God demands our full allegiance. He desires our complete surrender to His will, purpose and way. He desires to bless His people.

When he (Manasseh) prayed to Him (God), He was moved by his entreaty and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.
2 Chronicles 33:13 NASB

🌹Do you truly know the Lord God? If not, today is the day of surrender to Him.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Willing?

Jul17

For thus the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said, “In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength.” But you were not willing,
Isaiah 30:15 NASB

Where is your trust centered?

Yourself? Your job/career? Your government? Your family? Ect.

There is only One who can be truly and fully trusted BUT are you willing?

First and foremost you must repent, that is to turn from your will and ways – self centeredness – and follow and seek God’s will and His way. It is there where you can find rest and peace.

THEN

🌹Get to know the One who can be trusted, through prayer, the reading and studying of His word, and in the fellowship of other believers you will be strengthened. Seek Him.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

The Choice is Yours

Jul16

Thus I will punish the world for its evil And the wicked for their iniquity; I will also put an end to the arrogance of the proud And abase the haughtiness of the ruthless.
Isaiah 13:11 NASB

The earth will be completely laid waste and completely despoiled, for the Lord has spoken this word. Isaiah 24:3 NASB

Reading through Isaiah is like watching current events. So many correlations between today and this time in history.

The Word of God should be a “learn from history” book but we are a people trusting in our own abilities to change or make better today. That was then, this is now mentality.

History repeats itself because we are a rebellious, self-centered, arrogant people. Self included.

The Word of God reveals the Maker of all. Even in our depravity He desires a relationship with us. He desires to love us, protect us, lead us, use us in His plans here on earth right into eternity.

You want to know God, experience Him, be a part of His plan?

Repent, get into His word, talk to Him (pray), listen and follow in obedience.

You are either walking in His will or in yours. The choice is up to you.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon 🌹

Where Are Your Eyes Focused?

Jul15

It shall come about if you ever forget the Lord your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I testify against you today that you will surely perish. Like the nations that the Lord  makes to perish before you, so you shall perish; because you would not listen to the voice of the Lord your God.
Deuteronomy 8:19-20

The last couple of days my heart has been heavily burdened for the lost and for the church – especially those who believe in their salvation but are living in fear of the happenings around them instead of in fear of God. Is it because they have forgotten their God or perhaps believe in a God that is not supported by Scripture?

Where are your eyes focused? Is it on the daily events around you? COVID? Deterioration of society? Worry for your future?

Or are your eyes focused on God? The only peace we can encounter when all around us is falling apart. Our Prince of Peace.

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

He has come. The government rests on His shoulders. He is mighty over all. Seek His counsel and His ways. He is our peace. He is coming again.

Do you trust in God? Do you trust His plan? Are you seeking Him with a repentant heart? Does He abide in you? A repentant heart and the residing of the Holy Spirit in us will display the fruit of the Spirit:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

Now is the time.

Seek the Lord while He may be found;
Call upon Him while He is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
And let him return to the Lord,
And He will have compassion on him,
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon. Isaiah 55:6-7

🌹Seek the Lord’s compassion today through repentance and seeking His face continually. Where are your eyes focused?

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

My Will

Jul9

‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10 NASB

From the Lord’s prayer. Your will be done. Hmm. Have you ever thought on that? God’s will be done… On earth as it is in heaven.

What do we truly seek? Where is our thoughts, heart, mind focused?

The age old problem of my will or God’s will. It’s nothing new.

How can we know God’s will?

Through the prayerful reading of God’s word. Through the fellowship of His saints. Through seeking His will with open eyes looking for His work around us (circumstances).

Unfortunately we get complacent in our walk and we become just as Israel did in the wilderness.

They wandered in the wilderness in a desert region; They did not find a way to an inhabited city. They were hungry and thirsty; Their soul fainted within them. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; He delivered them out of their distresses. Psalms 107:4‭-‬6 NASB

They finally woke up and cried out to the Lord and He delivered them.

Why do we wait to desire God’s will until we’ve made a mess of our lives? Now is the time of repentance. Now is the time to seek God’s will, His kingdom, His righteousness.

🌹Suggestion: Read Psalm 107 with God’s will in mind. Evaluate your life and what you see in the world around you. Do you see God’s will or man’s will?

‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10 NASB

What is your response?

Crop Sowing and Reaping Pt. 3

Jul3

You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped injustice, You have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your way, in your numerous warriors, Hosea 10:13 NASB
Sow with a view to righteousness, Reap in accordance with kindness; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the Lord Until He comes to rain righteousness on you. Hosea 10:12 NASB
Therefore, return to your God, Observe kindness and justice, And wait for your God continually. Hosea 12:6 NASB

The book of Hosea is about the call of God to Israel for repentance. It is still speaking to us today. God preserves those who walk with Him, who follow in obedience, and trust their whole being to Him, trust in Him with their lives.

God is calling. Calling us to return to Him.

God is calling. Calling us to repentance.

God is calling. Calling us to drop our ways and trust in His ways.

God is calling us. Calling us to observe kindness and justice.

God is calling us. Calling us to wait for Him.

God is calling. Are we listening?

Wait for Him. It takes a still, quiet heart focused on the Lord God to hear Him. Seeking Him in His word and prayer consistantly. Listening in anticipation, expecting God to reveal Himself.

Do you want to experience God fully? Seek Him through His word, prayer, fellowship with other believers and listen.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon 🌹

Fruit of Repentance

Jan3

Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance – Matthew 3:8

So what does it mean to “bear fruit”?

for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), – Ephesians 5:8-9

Is your “Christian” walk consistent with goodness, righteousness and truth? If this fruit is not evident in your life then now is the time to evaluate your walk and kneel before God in true repentance.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

20/20

Oct9

Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin.” — Exodus 20:20

Most people have had their eyes tested at least once in their lives. Seeing 20/20 is a good thing. If the test has you seeing less than 20/20 you will probably find yourself with a prescription for glasses to improve your vision.

I found it interesting that this verse is 20:20. God desires us to see the sin in our lives for repentance and for avoidance from, to give us a reverence for Him and a real sense of judgement for sin.

The Israelites were tested in the wilderness because God wanted a humble nation whose heart was turned toward God in obedience and trust.

 You shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.  — Deuteronomy 8:2

God loves you. God wants the best for you. Testing is to make you more aware (help you see 20/20) so you may fear, revere God.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Life

Sep23

In whose hand is the life of every living thing,
And the breath of all mankind? — Job 12:10

So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man. Therefore having  overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all  people everywhere should repent,  because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.” — Acts 17:22-31

That man is Jesus Christ.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon