Step 1: Repentance
I believe that the Lord has made it easy for me to return to Him when I’ve turned away. I’ve tried my own way of doing things and they have failed many times over. The Lord really wants my hearts devotion and my minds attention focused on Him. He promises salvation to those who put their hope and trust in Him. He doesn’t want our words to be hollow. He wants our words backed up with action.
Israel had really turned from the Lord and through the prophet Jeremiah the Lord calls them to repentance. Check this out….
23 Surely the idolatrous commotion on the hills and mountains is a deception; surely in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel. 24 From our youth shameful gods have consumed the fruits of our ancestors’ labor— their flocks and herds, their sons and daughters. 25 Let us lie down in our shame, and let our disgrace cover us. We have sinned against the Lord our God, both we and our ancestors; from our youth till this day we have not obeyed the Lord our God.” (Jeremiah 3:23-25 NIV)
Repentance is a significant U-Turn in our lives. We are taking a detour from the way we should be going. The Lord calls us to stop and turn around. He wants us to turn toward Him. If we are going in the direction of the Lord, He helps make our path straight.
In arrogance we often think more highly of ourselves and our good works than we ought. Because of the Lord I’m privileged to give to others. We should approach the Lord with confidence seasoned with humility. We are nothing without Him. The first thing I need to do before approaching Him is repent.
Pressing On! Dwayne