Repentance Is Not Easy

Welcome! If you’re reading Embrace Grace by Liz Curtis Higgs with us, we are in Chapter 7 “Embrace Repentance…Striving for perfection can be exhausting.” 

Repent – to turn away from sin, disobedience, and rebellion, and turn back to God. (Tyndale NLT Study Bible)

Repentance is anything but easy.

It starts with acknowledging that we’re living in disobedience to God, and wanting that to change. That’s humbling.

It means giving up what we want for what God wants…even when it feels like dying. It’s painful.

Repentance is being obedient to God’s ways in a world that says we should do it our way…even when it means we stand out against the crowd. That’s being vulnerable.

Repentance is giving up the way we’ve been living to find new life in Christ…even when the old way is all we know. And that’s scary.

Repentance leads us forward—into a relationship with God, where He is waiting, ready to draw us into His sweet embrace…that’s comforting and where I want to be.

In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away! Luke 15:7 NLT

There will be days when we want to go back to our old ways because it’s easier, just like the Israelites longed to go back to Egypt. (Numbers 14:1-4) Even when the old is awful, it’s what we know.

It will take everything we have to stay on God’s path—and our everything won’t be enough.

But…

Where we aren’t enough, God is more than enough.

God rejoices when we return to Him. And He knows the danger we face of losing our way again when we’re not focused on Him.

The enemy knows too, and will do everything he can to move us away from God.

But God doesn’t leave us on our own. He goes before us and walks beside us. (Deut. 31:8) He tells us not to be afraid and not to get discouraged.

Because we will.

When we have no strength left in us, He has more than enough strength.

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 NIV

When we lose the desire to live differently because it’s just too hard, God steps in.

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Philippians 2:13 NLT

When we don’t have it in us to resist the temptations, God is faithful.

When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. 1 Corinthians 10:13b NLT

When are called to fight against the enemy, God dresses us with His armor.

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Ephesians 6:13 NLT

With our eyes focused on God, we can do this. We can turn around and live right with Him.

Not through our own strength, but through His.

All because of Him.

In Christ,

Laura 

Linking up with WholeHearted Wednesday and Winsome Wednesday