As we continue in the series Following Jesus, we will be focusing on repentance and how it prepares us to follow Him. Before we begin, let’s start with a prayer.
Heavenly Father, we praise You and thank You for Your presence in our lives. Thank You for being a loving and patient God as we strive to be like Jesus. Convict me and guide me through repentance. Amen.
2 Peter 3:9 (NLT)
9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.
Let the weight of this verse settle upon your soul. What does this mean to you? So often we, in all our brokenness, feel unworthy. We sin despite our strongest desire not to, taking two steps forward just to take three more steps back and succumb to a never-ending feeling of inadequacy. It can feel defeating, overwhelming, even futile.
Following Jesus can be hard, and nothing in scripture says otherwise. Despite how difficult it may be, and how many times we fall short, God is there, patiently waiting. He understands the challenges we face, but He also knows that our struggles and inevitable shortcomings lead us into a deeper relationship with Him. He doesn’t want us to struggle and give up. He wants us to feel convicted and seek Him to repent. He wants us to die to Him, not die a spiritual death.
Though it’s not easy to acknowledge the things for which we need to repent, this verse does offer hope. Even when we feel unworthy of engaging with Him because of sinful behavior, or we want to hide our sins, God instead wants us to use it as an opportunity to take our shortcomings to Him and receive His grace. God desires our repentance and a deeper relationship with Him. As we strive for an ongoing posture of repentance, God offers a posture of patience and is constantly drawing ever near to us. Examine the areas of your life for which you feel convicted. What do you do when you sin: do you go to God and repent? Or do you turn away from Him? What changes can you make to take a posture of repentance?
Engage with God and be vulnerable. Talk to Him about what you’ve been experiencing: your feelings, your challenges, and the areas of your life for which you feel you need to repent. Feel free to use the following prompts to help guide you.
God, I’ve been struggling with...
God, help me to overcome…
I pray that you know and feel that our God is a patient and loving God and that you experience a deeper connection and relationship with Him as a result of this truth!