Daily Repentance...important or unimportant?

While praying this afternoon I received an inspiration!

Before I discuss this inspiration let me ask some questions, which will lay the foundation for our premis.

• Do you ever feel like you and God are not on the same page, frequency or station?
• Do you ever wonder why your prayers are not seemingly being answered favorably?
• Do you ever have a hard time praying?
• When you are finished praying do you feel better, worse or the same?

Now on to our premis: Daily Repentance...important or unimportant?

If you are a practicing Christian then you will probably say "Ofcourse repentance is necessary!" However, do you understand why? Maybe, maybe not.... Here is a little discussion about repentance.

Notice my title mentions "DAILY REPENTANCE" most people understand that repenting of sins if important, however, how often do you repent? This is the question which must be answered very honestly! Scripture has much to say about prayer, and repentance. Let us look at some of these verses.

• First let us look at Matthew 6:9-15
• 9 In this manner, therefore, pray:
  Our Father in heaven,
  Hallowed be Your name.
  10 Your kingdom come.
  Your will be done
  On earth as it is in heaven.
  11 Give us this day our daily bread.
  12 And forgive us our debts,
  As we forgive our debtors.
  13 And do not lead us into temptation,
  But deliver us from the evil one.
  For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.^[a]
  
  14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Notice there is much in the "LORD's PRAYER" that requires us to repent and forgive. Notice the outline of this prayer: 1. Praise (Praising God for Being God) 2. Will of God (Praying about God's will to be done in our lives) 3. Petitions and Requests (Daily needs) 4. Repentance (notice this repentance is based upon our continued show of mercy and forgiveness to others) (also, note verses 14, and 15! Jesus will not forgive if we do not forgive!) Finally, 5. Praise and Worship.

Jesus teaches us here that whenever we pray we should include this simple outline in our prayer, which includes much needed repentance.

Personally, while I am praising at the beginning of my prayer I usually repent, as I find that it makes me more open to the Word of God, presence of God, voice of God and the leading of His Spirit.

• Second Scripture: Philippians 2:12, 13
• ASV So then, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; (13) for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.
  

Here Paul the Apostle is exorting the Philippian church to obey the teachings that he taught them. He makes is personal by telling the to "work out their own salvation with fear and trembling". As much as God is a God of Love, He is also a God of Holiness, Righteousness and Justice. Another scripture tells us that "it is a fearful thing to fall into the Hands of a Holy God." Therefore, Paul is implying, along with many other things, that a daily prayer life, which should include a humble attitude and repentance is very important!

If you haven't answered the above questions with these two verses then let me close with this summary.

First, an attitude of forgiveness toward everyone on our part is important. Without it we can't be forgiven of God. If we aren't forgiven of God then our prayers will most likely be answered with a resounding "NO"! In order to come into the presence of God through prayer, we must enter without any baggage. No weights or sins are allowed into the throne room of God. Therefore, if we are to gain audience with Jesus we must first repent of our sins!

As an illustration: I've been walking with God for most of my life, and I was brought up to fear, trust and pray to Jesus as my Saviour and Friend. However, as I'm only a lowly human, I can still make mistakes, and fall short of God's Glory. Therefore, no matter how long I am a Christian there is still and need for daily repentance.

I wouldn't want to miss the Second Coming of Jesus, and the taking away of His Church because I forgot to repent that day, and I had sinned! (Food for Thought!)

Yours for Daily Repentance,
Pastor Fred