To Help Me Repent Rightly (Part 2)
Suffering Savior,
Since one of the themes of the lenten season is repentance, help me to repent rightly. Repentance includes contrition, which is much more than just mouthing the words, “I’m sorry.” But it also involves much more than just feeling sorry or being weighed down by our guilt. We aren’t seeking to impress God by wallowing in the guilt and shame of our sin. Repentance doesn’t conclude with contrition; rather, that is just the beginning.
Repenting rightly means turning toward you, Lord, and laying our sin – along with all its accompanying guilt and shame – at the foot of the cross. Then, in faith we look up to you and see the price you paid to ensure our sin has been paid for in full. Yes, repentance includes embracing our forgiveness and trusting that you do not and will not ever hold our sin against us! This is the joy of repentance, and it allows us to confess and own our sins – because you owned the consequences and condemnation of our sin for us. Let us never tire of turning from our sin toward you, our Savior, in daily repentance.
In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.