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Repentance - Not Just Saying I'm Sorry....

Walk with Jesus

Paul's first letter to the Corinthians produced a sorrow in the believers that led them to repent of their sins (2 Corinthians 7:9). "Repentance" refers to the desire to turn from sin and restore one's relationship to God. "Godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation" (v.10). "Godly sorrow" refers to sorrow that is according to the will of God and produced by the Holy Spirit. True repentance cannot occur apart from such genuine sorrow over one's sin. Repentance is at the very heart of and proves one's salvation: unbelievers repent of their sin initially when they are saved, and then as believers, repent of their sins continually to keep the joy and blessing of their relationship to God.
(John MacArthur - The MacArthur Daily Bible)

I wanted to share the above comments from John MacArthur because it really spoke to me this morning while reading God's word. How many times do we feel sorry for our sin or ask for forgiveness in a "I'm sorry" sort of way while missing the sorrow of true repentance? I love MacArthur definition above that repentance is a desire to turn from sin and restore one's relationship to God. I always know my sin is sin, and I know I want forgiveness, but do I really desire to turn away from it and restore my relationship.

My prayer today is that I would feel that true Godly sorrow towards sin and that the Holy Spirit would produce in me a desire to turn away and truly repent every time. AND - that would be my flinch always.

Philip J.