As we continue to discuss recovery from a moral failure, we have learned there are five steps in the healing process we will need to pursue. Each are vital if we are to experience complete restoration before God and in the heart and minds of those we have wronged. These steps are recognition, repentance, reconciliation, restitution, and restoration.
We have discussed the need to recognize our actions as sin and to own the responsibility of that sin. This leads us to the important step of repentance. This will be our third post on this topic. We are spending a lot of time here, because without understanding and pursuing genuine repentance, the rest of the process will be impossible.
Repentance is first asking God to forgive the sin with a broken heart and remorseful spirit. We then must understand the need to turn from our sin. This is not simply an act of stopping the activity. It can be a difficult process because genuine turning involves a renewed commitment to a close relationship with our Lord. He is available and ready, but we have some hurdles to overcome. When we say it is difficult and will take time, we cannot allow this to be a source of discouragement. The process can be successful, and the result is worth the effort.
Once a decision is made to put the sin behind us and move single mindedly toward Jesus, we must be ready for some hard work to implement this decision. Satan does not easily let go of a temptation and will continue to hammer at our will. Therefore the next important step in repentance is to have a changed mind.
It is clear truth that all or our actions begin with a thought. We contemplate the outcome and then decide if we will follow through. For some decisions, this is an instantaneous process because we have done the activity over and over. With new opportunities, we may need to spend more time in making the decision.
Unfortunately, if we have succumbed to an unhealthy moral lifestyle, we have made up our minds that it is okay. This may have come about through searing of our conscience or our own selfish desire. Whatever the case, that mindset needs to be replaced if true repentance is to occur.
In his grace, God has offered us a great opportunity to learn how to accomplish this. Roman’s 12:1-2 says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship.2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.” We see in verse two the call to a renewed or transformed mind. This is a call to a new way of thinking. It doesn’t happen by simply choosing different thoughts, although this is a starting point. We must be willing to reprogram our minds in how we think, not just what we think. This is not Psychology 101, but is a God ordained process to get us where we need to be. We see in verse one that it requires a willingness to sacrifice on our part combined with an amazing work on God’s part. The result will be a place in the center of God’s will. We will give practical steps in doing this in next week’s post.