Hey you,
I hope you’ve been well? Today it’s going to be about repentance and the journey back to it.
Before I start, I wanted to remind you that there is a difference between calling yourself a Christian and actually living like one. There are certain things that as a Christian you can do and certain things you just cannot. There are certain “check-ups” you need to have every so often for yourself, that other people don’t. More on that later in this post, this is going to go quite deep, so get a cup of tea, play some nice lofi music in the background and let’s do this!
For the past few months I have been intentionally taking steps towards living like Christ did. Which made me realize how important intentionality is. There were often times in the past that I was being intentional about my faith, but I would often end up in conflicting situations that would leave me thinking that being 100% intentional all the time is quite exhausting. I would end up being religious about it, rather than living in grace, which would often cause mini “faith burnouts”. Okay, “faith burnouts” are not a thing, but it’s the easiest way to describe the situation.
What is a “faith burnout”
A faith burnout is when you go from living for Christ 100% to picking and choosing elements in the Word that are easiest to apply in your life and ignore the rest or convince yourself “but God told me that…” while whatever it is, is the opposite of what the Word says.
How do you know you’re going through a “faith burnout”
Disclaimer: this post can be quite triggering from here on, because I’m going to unpack the truth behind things that you might not be ready to face. Before you brush off the uncomfortable feeling and start judging all that is here, the people you’re angry with, me, etc. I want you to look at it from a self-reflecting perspective, then surely you will see the love and growth that is hidden in this post
- Not wanting to go to church out of fear for judgement or not seeing the importance of church
- Not meeting with other believers during the week
- Neglecting reading your Bible
- When thinking about prayer and worship makes you irritated
- Justifying your sins
- Intentionally disobeying God in your purpose
- Giving up on purpose
- Having a watered down conviction of God’s love for you
- Focusing more on trying to save yourself, rather than embracing the way he saved you
- Not wanting to listen to wise counsel
- Negative self-talk
- Intentional sinning, you know best what hat looks like for you
- Finding your worth in things rather than Christ
- Feeling uncomfortable/ embarassed to talk about faith
- Questioning whether God is for you
Rather than click off this post right now, I do want to encourage you to hang in there, because it does get better! You’re not the only one who struggled with these things, so hang in there!
The journey of repentance
If you acknowledge that 1 or multiple of the things listed above are things that you do, that aren’t right and you’re willing to turn back to what is right, then let’s do this together.
You’ve already done the first step so that’s great, if you’re wondering what that was: it’s acknowledging! Knowing that you’ve done wrong and accepting that that is a part of your past and having hope and knowledge that you can have a better future is crucial.
At the end of each year people tend to reflect more on what they have done or achieved the past year, but this December I want to reflect based on the coming of Christ, because at the core this is why He came. To restore what had been done.
With a posture of gratitude we can start this journey to true repentance.
What is repentance?
It’s reflecting on the way you have been going, having a conviction and remorse about it and committing to turning away from where you were headed and taking steps that show and prove that you’re changing for the better.
How are we going to go about repentance?
- What you can’t see won’t happen!
If you can’t visualize yourself living a God-centered life in a positive way, you won’t have one. If you can’t believe in your heart that change is possible, you won’t change! It’s important to believe it and picture you living according to the Word. You have to know that the Bible was written for you! That Jesus came for YOU, not only for the masses, but each individual that is part of the masses.
Once you realize that He’s here for you, you will be able to take His love for you seriously. Once you embrace that God has put something within you that has a specific purpose in His plan, you will take your gifts, knowledge and skill more seriously and you’ll enjoy the journey of change even more.
- Read and listen more, speak less!
One of the main things that has helped me on this journey is listening and reading more and saying less. Read His word, listen to what people around you have to say and how they act. Don’t focus on speaking yourself, focus on hearing and learning from life around you.
Focus on allowing people to watch your journey rather than hear from it, because that will have the most impact on them.
- Meditate on the things that are good
In Philippians 4:8 it says:
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” NKJV
When going into this journey it is important to have a good mindset. It is important to believe that the old is gone and the new is here and to walk in that new life. To walk in that new life it’ll mean focusing on the things that are good for you, things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellence and worthy of praise.
All the things that are not that are not going to help you embrace the truth of what Jesus came to do on this earth.
One of the ways to meditate on them often is by hanging some verses up, somewhere where you look often; a wall, a mirror, above your bed, let it be your alarm, etc. Make sure that the things that are good as stated above are overpowering the things that are bad, by thinking more of these things rather than the negative.
- When things are hard, check in with your heavenly and earthy accountability partners
There will be moments when this repentance journey becomes hard, it is important to reach out! There are two ways in which you can reach out:
1) Talk to God about it. In all situations it’s important to take it to the Lord. Pray about them: you can use the prayer journals that I have to process it all.
2) Talk to one person about it, have 1 accountability partner and make sure you see each other regularly to check in on one another. Talk to that person about what is a struggle and pray together about it as well.
Verses about repentance
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9
I hope you enjoyed this blogpost, definitely let me know what you thought of it and other topics you’d want me to write about.
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Big love,
Joy
