Devotion: Repentance

Do you ever feel like you are repenting to God about the same struggle you had the week before? Month before?

This week I came to realize that I ask for forgiveness about the same struggle that I fail at almost every week. I have done it for a while and I just recently felt that I am so unworthy of God’s forgiveness. It was almost as if I was using God because I knew he would forgive me. I would promise him that I was going to stop my sinful actions, but a week or even a month later I was back “promising” Him that I would stop the same sinful actions I was doing before. After doing this for about four months, I became disgusted with myself. I would avoid praying and doing my devotions because I didn’t feel worthy enough to know him or even worthy to restore my life with Him because he is holy and I let him down more then once.

This week started off different because the fact that I had been using God kept returning to my mind and it hurt. Then, God speaking in his many ways played a song Monday morning on Klove by Jeremy Camp called “Take You Back”. The chorus goes, “I’ll take you back, always and even when your pain is coming through…” That opened my eyes to realize that God always has open arms. He always offers endless grace.

Another miracle that happened the same day was in the 2nd Grade class that I help in during the day. They were having a Bible lesson and it was on the unmerciful servant (Matt. 18: 21-35). The very first part Peter asks Jesus how many times he should forgive his brother and Jesus answered “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” 

God says to forgive multiple times and I connected that with God’s endless mercy. I realized that if I come broken and completely discussed with myself and want to change, God is willing. I am not saying you can continually do wrong and then ask for forgiveness because you know God will forgive, but if you are humble and truly want to live a life for Christ the opportunity is waiting. Last thing to remember is that we are sinners and we will fail and God knows that. Stay strong and remember that God is always there and always willing to forgive if you ask.

Luke 17:3 says “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.”

Written by Emily Conger

I am Emily Conger and am just starting college at Westminster. I am currently focusing on living the life of a college kid and putting God at the center of all things. What I have learned so far is to live life to the fullest and laugh whenever possible!