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Prayer
Repentance
“And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner”
(Luke 18:13).
Repent literally means a change of mind, or to rethink. It is realizing that what God says about us is true, and taking sides with God on the matter. Like the publican in Luke 18, our salvation and blessing begin with “Repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). The Lord said, “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified” (Luke 18:14).
However, repentance is something that needs to be ongoing in our Christian life. When John wrote to the church at Ephesus, he said, “Thou hast left thy first love.” He then gave an injunction from the Lord, “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent” (Revelation 2:4-5). To take sides with God always leads to the self-judgement of acts of sin and self-will. Romans 2:4 tells us “that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.” This is accomplished through the work of the Spirit of God.
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