REPENT!!!

“From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."
Matthew 4:17

As we have been studying the book of Revelation, one of the words that Jesus spoke to each of the 7 churches was to repent. Actually, the very first words that Jesus spoke as he began his earthly ministry was "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."

Somewhere along the way, “repent” became a negative word. When many people hear that word, they think of a guy holding a sign on the corner telling them to “turn or burn” because the end is near. But the world’s idea of what it means to repent is totally wrong. “Repent” is actually the most positive, transforming word in the world. The word “repent” in Greek is “Metanoia” Meta meaning to change and Noia meaning thinking. To Repent just means you change your mind or way of thinking.. It’s not when you stop doing bad things—that’s the result of repentance. It means you used to think one way and now you think another way.

You used to think guilty thoughts, and now you think forgiven thoughts. You used to think discouragement, and now you think peace. You used to think selfishness, and now you think of others first. You used to think ambitiously, and now you think about how to serve. You think about God as he really is—a kind and loving Father. You think about yourself as God sees you—with value and purpose. You think about what really has meaning in life.

Repentance is when you start rethinking your life in order to match how Jesus thinks. When you repent, it’s not about not getting to do the things you want to do anymore. It’s about doing the things that matter because your mind is set on what’s most important. It’s the most positive change in the world.

Thought For Today: Do you need some refreshment? Do you need to recover from life’s hurts and be revived after loss or failure? Then you only need to repent. When you do, you’ll come into God’s presence and experience real joy and peace.

Today’s Prayer Focus: Pray for God’s help to Repent of those things that God wants you to change. . Deo Volente.