Practicing Repentance
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9 ESV)
My husband and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary last week. For months, we had planned a weekend away – just the two of us. A friend of mine had committed to keeping our children. Through a series of circumstances, she was unable follow through. When our backup sitters couldn’t fill in, our celebration plans were ruined.
Frustrated. Angry. Disappointed. Downright rude. I went through each of these emotions multiples times and acted out against my husband. By Saturday morning, everything was his fault – including the rain!
God was gracious in showing me how childish I acted. Thankfully, my amazing husband was extremely understanding and quickly forgave my shortcomings. My prayer time that evening focused on repentance. Confessing my wretched attitude and prayerfully asking for God’s forgiveness was freeing. It was a good thing and is so important in a Christian’s life.
Martin Luther acknowledged how important repentance was when he wrote his 95 Theses. The very first one states this:
When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said “Repent,” he intended that the entire life of believers should be repentance.
On Reformation Day, I read beautiful commentary from Desiring God about Luther’s first theses. It says,
All of the Christian life is repentance. Turning from sin and trusting in the good news that Jesus saves sinners aren’t merely a one-time inaugural experience but the daily substance of Christianity. The gospel is for every day and every moment. Repentance is to be the Christian’s continual posture.
It’s true – the gospel message centers on forgiveness. When we approach God with sincere confession, He lavishly pours out grace and mercy on us every single time. There is no withheld forgiveness. There is no telling us no. That is the promise of 1 John 1:9. No wonder Martin Luther focused on repentance to begin his famous 95 Theses. What a wonderful promise!
Learning more about repentance,
Dana
Please visit me at my personal blog, Seeking Precepts.
I am so sorry that you were not able to get away on your anniversary.
I like what you shared about repentance; it is a continual thing.
May God continue to bless your marriage sweetly.
When plans dont go as planned, it can be frustrating, but thank goodness that in love, we can be patient and forgiving of one another. Hopefully you were able to celebrate at a later date. I always tell my husband, its not about the date as it is about the heart. <3
What a wonderful post:)