"But I feel so far from God...."

Feel far from God? This may be part of your solution:

 

R e p e n t a n c e.

A word that has continually came to mind the last few weeks, and has come up in conversation a few times as well.

Repent. What does this mean?

 

“Repentance (metanoia, 'change of mind') involves a turning with contrition from sin to God; the repentant sinner is in the proper condition to accept the divine forgiveness." (from www.blueletterbible.org.)

Personally, I don’t think we hear this often enough. Perhaps, many speaking themselves lack a repentant heart, and so how can you pass on a practice that you do NOT do? Perhaps we don’t hear this in sermons because the word itself and what it means makes people squirm in their seat.

Although, my candid commentary is that ‘those who are squirming must have some things to repent of’.

I personally would like to know: why aren’t we hearing this message taught or shared more often?

• Do you realize that John the Baptist’s message was of repentance? (Matthew 3:1-3)
• The 12 disciples set out and peached that men should repent. (Mark 6:12)
• Jesus Himself, directed people to repent. (Matthew 4:17)

(I encourage you to do a word search on it with your concordance.)

With that much emphasis by key men in the Bible, it’s apparent that it’s essential to our spiritual walks. Right?

As I meditated on the word itself, and realized it was THE theme to these men of God’s message I understand that REPENTANCE is what the initial step to SPIRITUAL FREEDOM!

Think about the things that have you in bondage, where you are not free. What do you need to repent of?

Let’s be honest, people these days have an addiction to their phones. It’s ridiculous. Look up from your phone and watch people driving, grocery shopping, even out to dinner with loved ones: PEOPLE ON THEIR PHONES – EVERYWHERE!!!! The biblical term for this is ‘idolatry’. Anything that you are obsessed with, that robs your time and attention from work, your family, and taking care of yourself is IDOLATRY.

Facebook can be idolatrous to some. That’s just speaking to one area. Consider t.v., social media altogether....YIKES!

There are the other addictions that people have been caught up in for ages: alcoholism, chronic shopping, drug use, and workoholism. What else? There are the X-rated addictions that so many are captive to as well.

What about the things that have us in bondage that are internal? Hate, anger, rage toward people. Lack of forgiveness, lack of mercy, laziness, gossipy-judgmentalness.

 

What about lack of trust in God? Anger toward God? Been blaming God for the bad in your life?

These things – these mindsets – these thoughts

should be repented of.

We could sit down and examine our lives all day, putting our relationships under a microscope and scrutinize our feelings and attitudes towards those people and find some thoughts or actions that we need to repent of. Really. Think about how you feel toward God? Your spouse? Your in-laws? Your siblings? Your parents? Your kids? Your boss? Your teacher? Your____fill in the blank_______.

Need to repent of some thoughts, attitudes, and actions? Yea, me too.

I am often reflecting over how I feel toward people. The Spirit is willing to love unconditionally, but the flesh is weak to carry that out!

But folks, the first step toward spiritual growth and a close walk with the Lord is REPENTANCE. It really truly is.

You know that moment you ‘feel’ far from God? Stop and look at your life, your mouth, your heart. Find that things that you need to repent of and ask God to change you! He created you. He can certainly change you. But you have got to first partner with Him and admit where you are far from Him, where you are blowing it, where you have sin in your life and heart. You have to be honest with yourself and Him.

The encouraging thing is that God is longing for you to repent of these things so that you stop avoiding Him. Think about it. When you are caught up in that sinful thinking or behavior, are you feeling close to God? No way. You are NOT acknowledging Him thinking that if you act like He’s not there….He won’t see what you are doing….right? Wrong.

 You’re lack of acknowledgement of God doesn’t impact His attention on you. He is Omni-present. He is always there. Your lack of acknowledgement of God only makes you feel like He doesn’t see you. It serves you.

Moreover, when you acknowledge God, your thoughts and actions that don’t line up with the Word of God will weigh heavy on your heart….and THAT my friend is what you need to repent of. Right there, on the spot, as soon as you feel the conviction!

Is this making sense? Repentance is the bridge back into God’s presence. In God’s presence is where the anointing awaits you, the answers to some prayers, and the peace that surpasses all understanding.

So, what do you need to repent of today? What do you need to agree with God about? What are the things robbing your life, your family, your job of? What can you take to God and leave with Him to take and change?

Folks, we’re not hearing God because our hearing is clouded with the noise of the sins and the world in our lives. Let’s repent now…and daily! And let’s keep our lives free of the bondages that rob us of the freedom in Christ!

I'm not religious...

Did you know that I'm not religious and Jesus isn't either?

It's interesting to me how many people use this word to describe me. I know it's because of their lack of knowledge of the true living, daily relationship that is available with Jesus.

When you read the New Testament, the Pharisees were the religious people. And they rejected the truth that Jesus was God's Son....Jesus was God in the flesh....Jesus was the promised Messiah. They rejected the idea that He would reign forever at the right hand of the Father.

It was the religious Pharisees that crucified Jesus on the cross. This is why being called "religious" is a pet peeve of mine. I do realize that people mean no harm in it. They intend for it to be a compliment. But I don't want to be religious. I equate religiousness to the Pharisees, and they rejected the cornerstone of my faith!

I want to be called a true follower of Christ,

a disciple of Christ.

Somewhere along the lines, even being called a Christian isn't so positive sounding anymore. So many 'Christians' reject the very people that Christ died for. So many 'Christians' are hurting their family of God. So many people are being hurt and wounded by 'Christians'. It is a sad, sad thing. Those 'Christians' are acting like the Pharisees. I guess you could say they are being 'religious Christians'.

It's easy to appear like you have it all together when you only let your immediate family (that lives with you) see the real you. You know....the raging, easily angered, disrespectful, impatient selfish YOU.

But then Sunday comes and you show up to church, smiling, saying "Praise the Lord"...you tithe the 10% because your supposed to...and that's it. There's no overflow of true desperation for the presence of Jesus in your life. You just want to say that "you go to church", "you tithe", and so on. You do what you're supposed to do for mere purpose of feeling as though you are 'fulfilling your duties as a Christian'.

To be a follower of Christ, it actually means loving Him so much that you WANT to go to church, you want to wake up early to read your Bible and spend time talking to God and letting your heart be open to what He says. It goes much deeper than 'doing the right things' alone.

Your passion for Jesus needs to be so intense that all the 'right things'

are just a natural overflow of your commitment to Him and His Word.

You've probably heard it said:

IT'S A HEART CONDITION! 

IT'S A RELATIONSHIP!

See, Jesus wants your heart and a relationship with you! He doesn't need you to try to 'be religious'. He just wants your attention and love. When you abandon the world's standards and open up your mind to the Word of God and ask Jesus to give you His Holy Spirit, your life will change.

This will not make you 'religious'. This WILL guarantee your eternal destination...and it will open the door for you to discover who Jesus really is, and who He made you to be!

So for the record:

I'm not religious....

I'm a lover and follower of Jesus Christ, God Most High!