Repentance

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Psalm 106:6 Admitting Doing Wrong

We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly. Psalm 106:6

Admitting that one did something wrong is very difficult for most people. Instead of admitting what was done wrong, many people choose to blame others or the circumstances for their decisions and actions. No one likes to be seen as a failure or a bad person. The majority of people see themselves as an overall good person with a few faults, but not many. They will not identify themselves with those who are locked up in prison for horrible crimes.

This psalmist does a confession that he and the people had sinned with their fathers, committing sins and doing wicked things.

When a person compares self with another person, it is easy to think that one is not as bad. All that is seen is the surface things being done right or wrong and that is where the comparison is made. In doing this, sin is often overlooked as not being as bad as it really is.

Every person will have to admit that at some point in one’s life that person has either lied, cheated, was jealous, hating, wishing someone dead, or lustful in their heart or mind or in actual actions. People just count that to being human and not really that bad, as long as it was not a grossly huge crime against another person, nor as bad as what someone else has done.

In doing this, people forget how horrible sin really is. Sin, no matter how little or great it is, is against God and worthy of eternal punishment. Instead of pointing fingers at others for them being ‘more sinful’, one must admit one’s own sin before God and repent of those sins. Everyone has done wickedly and sinned against God, yet God is ready to forgive.

No matter how good you may appear to be, there have been times you have sinned against God just as did others before you. Any one of those sins makes you just as wicked as the person on death row in prison. Do not try to cover up or blame others for the sin you have done. Be willing to admit it to God, confess those sins and repent of those sins. God waiting and ready to forgive you and give you a new life in Christ Jesus.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior; that you will admit your sins to God; that you will not blame others for your sins; that you will repent of all sins against God; and that you will know the forgiveness God has for you.

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Psalm 69:5 God Sees Everything

O God, You know my foolishness; and my sins are not hidden from You. Psalm 69:5

People try to do things that are hidden all the time. Leaders often hope that no one knows or finds out about things that they had done wrong in their past. The enemy often uses those wrongs to destroy or tear a person down. Once the wrong is found out, many try to give excuses to explain it away or just plain deny it. No one wants to really admit that they did something wrong and hate when it is discovered.

David recognizes that God knows his foolishness and that none of his sins are hidden from His sight.

Covering up and concealing past wrongs is a common practice among most people. Reputations and careers are often destroyed when a past wrong is found out. To admit that one was wrong is to admit that one has failed and was foolish, something very few are willing to do. Most just regret that they got caught in a past wrong.

Acting in this way is not only done in the world, but also inside the church. People try to hide secret sins from other believers, forgetting that God sees everything and knows what sins they are doing behind closed doors.

Instead of attempting to hide foolish sinfulness, believers need to be willing to admit it before God. He already sees and knows the foolish sinfulness that every person commits against Him.

Admission of the sin allows one to repent and seek God’s mercy and forgiveness. The entire purpose of Jesus coming was to remove those sins. God is ready and willing to forgive the moment a believer chooses to admit the sins, that He already knows about, and seeks His forgiveness.

Just like David, you have had times in which you have been foolish and sinned against God. Some of those times may appear to have been in complete secret in which no one may know about those sins. However, God has seen every action you have done and knows every thought and word you have spoken. He knows the sins you have committed against Him, they are not hidden from Him.

Do not try to keep those sins hidden and in secret. Choose to admit your sins against God, repent of them and seek His mercy and forgiveness. He is waiting to forgive you.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know God knows all of your sins against Him; that you will repent of your sins and seek His forgiveness; and that you will know His love, mercy and forgiveness in your life.

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Psalm 51:14 Freedom From Guilt Of Bloodshed

Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness. Psalm 51:14

Very few people, out of the billions on the earth, are guilty of physically murdering or killing another person. Most people have thought to want to kill someone, but most never go through with it. There are also many who have physically killed someone, some of whom have been caught and punished, and others who have never been caught yet. The only way the world sees murder as murder, is when someone physically kills someone else.

David asked God to deliver him from the guilt of bloodshed so that he could sing of His righteousness. In this passage, David was guilty of physically killing another man. He admitted his guilt and asked God to cleanse him of the sin.

While the world only looks at physical murder as a guilt of murder, God looks at things differently. He begins with physical murder but extends it to the thoughts of murder. Jesus would much later state that to even think of murdering someone is the same as doing it.

Very few people have never had someone that they were angry enough with to wish that the person would die somehow. In God’s eyes, this is the same as physically murdering the person. There is still a guilt of bloodshed, even though physically no blood was shed.

Believers need to be careful and take into captivity every thought and every idle word. Every thought or spoken word is heard by God, both good and bad. These words and thoughts will be judged by God at some point.

The good news is that is one of the many reasons why Jesus died upon the cross–to take away the guilt of ALL sin. As the believer repents of bloodshed, God will forgive.

Hopefully you have never physically murdered someone, but most likely you are guilty of wishing someone dead at some point. Whether physically or with words, God is ready and willing to forgive you and remove your guilt. He wants you to have life so that you can sing of His righteousness, love and mercy upon your life.

Seek God for forgiveness and strength to keep your thoughts under control in His righteousness and holiness. Then sing praises of His righteousness and holiness.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will repent of any sins against God you have done; that you will allow God to change your mind to speak His words of life; and that you will sing of His righteousness for all the world to hear.

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Psalm 50:21 Rebuke Is Coming

These things you have done, and I kept silent; you thought that I was altogether like you; but I will rebuke you, and set them in order before your eyes. Psalm 50:21

People will try to get away with something that they should not do, hoping no one sees or cares. Criminals are the most common to do this in extreme ways, but many others do the same, although things done not judgeable by the court system. When they get seen and nothing is done immediately, people feel as if they are ok and that the one who saw is doing the same.

Asaph wrote how God said some ways that the people were not living for Him. Now He says that as they did those things, He kept silent and they thought He was like them, but God says He will rebuke them and set things in order.

It is easy for people to do sinful things and feel that they are getting away with what they are doing. Unless God strikes immediately, and He rarely does, it is as though God does not care. Some may even feel as if God supports their actions or thoughts.

The temporary silence of God does not mean acceptance. If a person chooses to not repent or turn to Him, there will come a day when He will speak out and rebuke that person. Judgement will come where there is no repentance.

Instead of being impatient as most people are, God is patient. He does not want to judge and strike people who sin against Him. Out of perfect love, God is kind and remains silent, waiting for the person to repent and change one’s ways. This is the entire reason why God sent Jesus to die upon the cross to take away the sins of all people.

Everything that you do, say or think is seen or heard by God. There is nothing you have done that is hidden from God. During those times you have chosen to sin, God most likely remained silent, though He speaks loudly through His word–the Bible.

Do not allow yourself to think that God accepts that sinful behavior because He is being silent. He is waiting for you to turn to Him in repentance. He is ready to forgive you and give you a full life. If you choose to not repent, there will come a day of rebuke and ultimately punishment.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will repent of all sins against God; that you will know God knows all that you have done; that you will know God’s love and patience; and that you will live for God in every area of your life.

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Psalm 41:4 Seek God’s Mercy

I said, “Lord, be merciful to me; heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.” Psalm 41:4

At some point in life every person makes some major mistake and does something that is very wrong. This mistake may be against a family member, a friend, a boss, or with the law directly. With having made the mistake there are sometimes some very severe consequences. The person who is truly sorry for making the mistake may sometimes plead the mercy of the one who it was done against to get a lighter or no punishment for the wrong done.

David cries out to God asking Him to be merciful upon Him and to heal his soul because he had sinned against Him.

Doing something wrong against another person can bring about some severe consequences. Those consequences can sometimes tear a person up and bring about challenges for the rest of that person’s life. However, those consequences are only in this life.

The person who does something wrong against God, sin against God, does something that can last for eternity. It begins with the conscience being broken knowing one has sinned against God in any way whether great or small. The heart and mind are troubled with having done wrong.

Punishment for sin is eternal death and eternal separation from God. However, the believer who recognizes that one has sinned can repent and seek God’s great mercy. He is a loving God that does not want to punish or tear down, but desires to forgive and rebuild.

Repentance is admitting to God that one has sinned, turning away from that sin and seeking His forgiveness. It is pleading with God, as David did, for His mercy to be forgiven and the sin cast out, no longer to be judged or punished.

If you are a believer and are seeking to live for God at all times, your heart will break when you make a bad choice to sin against God. You sin will loom largely over your heart and mind until it is dealt with in a proper way.

Instead of running from God or trying to hide that sin, go to God and repent of that sin. Seek God’s mercy upon your life. Allow God to show His great mercy in forgiving you of that sin and removing that sin from your life, healing your soul and making you whole again.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will repent of any sins against God; that you will seek God’s mercy anytime you have sinned against Him; and that you will know God’s great mercy upon your life.

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