Just needing to share

Recently I have been seeing that there are areas of sin in my life that I need to repent of and I do, but I don't always feel the brokenness over my sin that I know I should. I love the Lord very much and I should be broken hearted when I sin against Him always and yet there are times that I almost feel as if I am going through the motions. I don't want this to be. I don't just want my times of repentance to be empty words to ease my conscious. I don't want to trample on the grace and mercy God has shown me. He is my beloved how can I treat Him this way? I know that I really need to pray about the attitude of my heart in this area.

Thanks for listening tonight
God Bless
MJ

MaryJane wrote:
Recently I have been seeing that there are areas of sin in my life that I need to repent of and I do, but I don't always feel the brokenness over my sin that I know I should. I love the Lord very much and I should be broken hearted when I sin against Him always and yet there are times that I almost feel as if I am going through the motions. I don't want this to be. I don't just want my times of repentance to be empty words to ease my conscious. I don't want to trample on the grace and mercy God has shown me. He is my beloved how can I treat Him this way? I know that I really need to pray about the attitude of my heart in this area.

Thanks for listening tonight
God Bless
MJ

I understand what you mean because I have gone through it before. Continue to pray and ask Him to help you repent. There are times when He will do it very fast. There are times it seems He is hardly moving. Only He knows what's best for us and sometimes we have to go through a few rounds of this (refining). In fact, I think it will be a livelong process.

You cannot on your ownself feel the repentance. Your duty is to keep praying and asking Him to help you repent. He will do it. Just rest secure that He knows the perfect timing on when to give it to you.

Phil 4:6-7
Be careful (anxious) for nothing : but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus

I was halted this morning while reading John 13, end of the chapter, verse 37. Peter with much gusto and zeal says,

"Lord I will lay down my life for you."

"Peter, will you lay down your life for me?"

"this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times."

"Let not your hearts be troubled."

"believe in God, believe also in Me."

This grace is so overwhelming. Our doubts, betrayals, failures all deserve punishment, beatings and death, but our Lord gives grace and more grace and says often,

"Where are those that condemn you?
"Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more."

May the Lord bless you, dear ones, and encourage you with this Word!

MaryJane,

You ask some good questions, some that are not all that unusual.

You have gotten good advice here - so far - in my opinion. There is, however, one point I would like to add.

How well do you [i][b]hate[/b][/i] the sins you have repented from? This should be a real clue as to your degree of repentance. When I sin or do something dreadfully stupid, and I hate it with a passion, the probability to repeat it is not that great. The sorrow you want to feel could be another form of 'hate', at least it seems so to me.

When our sins become disgusting to us, we are well on the way to repentance. When we still love/enjoy our sins that means there is not even a heart of repentance within.

My thoughts for whatever it is worth,
ginnyrose

I wanted to say thank you for your comments. I have been thinking about and putting to prayer some of what was shared here with me.

Ginnyrose what you wrote in particular has been on my heart since reading your post and I know Father is showing me something in this. I realize that in some of the areas of my heart that I truly have not come to a place of hating the sin. I am seeing that some of my attitude is because I have not truly seen the sin through the eyes of my Lord and so have not hated it as I should.Its been more of an attitude of "I know this is wrong and I need to stop it but not that I really hate the sin itself. I am praying and asking Father to open my eyes and heart to view this sin in my life the way that He does, that I will not become complacent in my walk with Him but rather daily in all things be willing to die to self holding nothing back from Him.

Thank you all again
God Bless
MJ

But even if you dont feel a burden of sorrow, still confess your sins, ask Him to cover them with the Blood of Christ, and then repent. Turn from that sin and ask God to help you to never do it again. And then move on... Krispy

Thanks for this Krispy. I hope you don't mind if I ask you to clarify a little. Are you saying that the feeling of sorrow/brokeness over sin is seperate from the reality of the need to repent?

If I realise I've sinned, I can turn and go in the opposite direction (the Hebrew meaning), and change my mind (the Greek meaning) on the matter, and that ACTION is repentance. A feeling of deeper conviction over my sinfulness generally, or even over a specific sin at a particular time, is important as the Lord leads, but isn't crucial to being able to repent of sin I know is sin.

Is that what you're saying? If so, I think I get it! If not... why don't I get it? :)

Thanks,

Adam

You cannot on your ownself feel the repentance

I want to clarify something here because I think the use of the word "repentance" in this sentence is incorrect.

Repentence is not something you feel, it is something you [b]do[/b]. To repent is to turn from something and go in the other direction. When you repent of you sin, you turn from it and do it no more.

Definition and thesauraus meaning of repentance from Answers.com

--The act or process of repenting.
--Remorse or contrition for past conduct or sin
--A feeling of regret for one's sins or misdeeds

Just to clarify. :) Repentance can be an act or it can be a feeling or both. One should avoid doing the sin (ie act of repentance) but one should be able to feel the remorse too (ie the feeling of regret/repentance). One must do both.

Sometimes we don't feel /(enough of )the remorse. We stop doing the thing because we know its sinful and wrong but the feeling of remorse is not there.

We need to pray to God to forgive us, to help us from doing it again and to give us the appropriate 'feeling'.

Cheers Krispy,. I think this is very good advice:

Do what we know we need to do in obedience, and let us feel sorrow to the extent that the Holy Spirit convicts us.

Personally, perhaps because my early Christianity was so emotion-focused, I'd much rather be un-moved, other than to the point of realising my sin and repenting, than worrying about the extent of my feelings on the matter.

That said, I totally understand the intent of this post - I think it's all too easy to get far too comfortable with sin in our lives, perhaps because we're far too comfortable with our 'repentance' too.

Here's a question: Can there be 'depths' of repentance? Or are you either repentant or not?

Sorry if I'm hijacking the thread!

MaryJane, sorry to sidetrack a bit.

Krispy, this is my last post to you on this thread here because there's no point getting into an 'arguement/debate'. If you bothered to read my posts properly, you will notice that there's more to just feelings. There's confession and there's actions too. In fact, from my very first post, I've already combined the action and feeling ie 'it all works all together' as you mentioned in your last post, but you seemed to misinterpret my repentance to be only 'feeling' and furthermore misdefine repentance to not include the feeling of remorse part. I've even clarified it further in my 2nd post, however you chose to focus as if all it was mentioned was 'feelings only'. Furthermore,if one just do the action, then one is nothing more than a Pharisee.

I'm going to turn the other cheek and not post further if you so wish to subsequently post further.

I'm just going to do a quick last reply.

Krispy, when you quoted me and 'corrected my quotes', wouldn't it be common sense that I had to clarify my position to you . And BTW, it has nothing to do with all me. I'm very familiar in forums and can stand a lot of heat. I just chose to put how I used to answer previously etc where I can really show how a person has make a fool of himself when I became a Christian.

The main reason why I chose not to argue with you is because I've seen how your posts here are in many of the other threads. And your latest post just confirmed it.

I will not debate with you further and this time will really honour turning the other cheek to your posts.

Here are a few Scriptures for you:

[b]Psalms 119[/b]
[b]101[/b]. I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.

[b]Psalms 119[/b]
[b]104[/b]. Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

[b]Psalms 119[/b]
[b]128[/b]. Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.

[b]Psalms 139[/b]
[b]24[/b]. And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

[b]Proverbs 8[/b]
[b]13[/b]. The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

[b]Proverbs 15[/b]
[b]10[/b]. Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.

[b]Jonah 3[/b]
[b]8[/b]. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.

[b]Jonah 3[/b]
[b]10[/b]. And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

[b]Jeremiah 36[/b]
[b]7[/b]. It may be they will present their supplication before the LORD, and will return every one from his evil way: for great is the anger and the fury that the LORD hath pronounced against this people.

[b]Ezekiel 3[/b]
[b]18[/b]. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
[b]19[/b]. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

[b]However, this must always be remembered !!![/b]

[b]James 1[/b]
[b]20[/b]. For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

Indeed, we should hate evil but even if we do this let us not be deceived lest we should trust in ourselves. To say mistakenly, "I shall never taste of sin which my soul abhors." Let us not be deceiving ourselves and esteem more highly of self than we ought! For this we do, hating every evil way, because our Lord hates sin and is angry with everyone who practices iniquity. However, it is not the wrath of man which works righteousness but it is the Wrath of God that was appeased in the sufferings of Christ Jesus as the sacrificial offering for sins so that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him!

And, neither shall we hate every evil way because the paths therein shall end in our destruction. But in this: because the Lamb who was slain is worthy to receive the rewards of His sufferings!

Those who are forgiven much love much. It does Not say those who are guilty much or are remorseful much. Repent and be saved by grace through faith in Christ alone. For it is not the wrath and judgment of God against sin that leads sinners to repentance ...

Hear this!

[b]Romans 2
4[/b]. Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

[b]4[/b]. Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

O magnify the praises of the Lord!

[b]Acts of the Apostles 26
20[/b]. but [Paul] kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.

[b]Matthew 3
8[/b]. Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance !

Even a wicked heart as mine has known that it is not the fiery indignation of God that has broken my heart unto love of Him but much rather the great mystery of His loving-kindness towards me. The waves of His gentle-kindess and the soft breezes of His mercy bruise my heart and bend my knees and shatter my wicked heart to pieces.

Were God to condemn me and cast me into outer darkness I could understand it ... but who can endure this great Love wherewith He has loved us?

We have settled this through pm. Would greatly appreciate it if people do not reply with regards to this matter so as not to possibly inflame this. Thanks.

MaryJane as I read your posts they touched my heart.

It got me thinking of one of the first meetings I attended. During the week I had been thinking to myself. I have got to life together I've got to get myself sorted out.

As I was sitting in the meeting the preacher start saying some of you have been thinking. "I have got to life together I've got to get myself sorted out" that is my Spirit talking to you says God.

God in his mercy was reaching out to me drawing me in and convincing me that I needed to sort myself out. The only place I could think to get that help that I needed was with God.

This is what I believe he is doing with you. I believe he is drawing you into a deeper walk with him but the hinderances (sin) must be cleared away. Thats why he is highlighting them to you. He wants to help you he wants to be closer to you.

Cry out for help. Make it your mission over the next period of time to get the freedom that God wants to give you. Press in my Sister and find out how good God is. Don't give up until you get the freedom and a deeper walk with God.

Isaiah 55:6-8 Seek ye Jehovah while he may be found; call ye upon him while he is near, let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto Jehovah, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah