Repent: Change Your Thinking

Published by christi on January 13, 2022

“Repent and believe the gospel.”

— Mark 1:15

These are Jesus’ words that stood out from this morning’s lectio Divina, the ancient Christian tradition of soaking in a short passage of scripture and allowing God’s Spirit to focus one’s attention on a portion of it.

Processing what He means resulted in the following conversation:

“Change your thinking and put your trust in the good news that you can only be righteous by taking My rightness in exchange for your sin.

“Change your thinking:  stop trying to be good enough. You are not, nor will you ever be apart from Me! Choose instead to rely completely on Me, on what I will do, on the grace I am bringing to you. It is enough grace to deal with it all! My Father’s own almighty arm is bringing you salvation:  Me. I am your salvation. I am enough!

“I am enough to fulfill all the Father’s requirements of holiness. I will give it to you. There is no more measuring up to do. Abide in Me. Walk in My power. My Spirit empowers you to live as I live. I am enough.”

So, Jesus, lead me in Your pursuit of the Kingdom and righteousness in my wounds. I think there are many I have not brought under Your authority and Kingship, but have “managed” them instead. I want You to rule over my wounds so that they don’t rule! Too long have I lived under the authority of my pain. I will not conquer it by denying it, but instead by acknowledging it and allowing You to be who You are to my wounds.

Thank You for being so patient with me and for gently exposing those wounds.

Jesus, Your Majesty, I declare You to be king here in my heart, in my house, in my household! In my schedule, on my menu and over my table! Let righteousness be served here…that means repentance and confession because that’s how it comes.

In the new year, 2022, still

Following Jesus every day in the everyday,

Christi

P.S. What conversations are you having with Him in this new year? I would love to hear about them.