Repentance - Scripture and Resources
"Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139:23-24)
Tim Boettger taught on the importance of repentance and confession during this series, and suggests some time of meditation on the following passages of Scripture:
What is confession and self-examination? *
Self-examination is the process whereby the Holy Spirit opens my heart to reveal to me the truth about myself.
In confession I simply tell God the truth about myself, ask for forgiveness and the strength to turn away from sin, and to live His way.
In repentance, I simply tell God how sorry I am for falling short of His way of life.
This is not the same thing as a neurotic, shame-inducing inventory. Instead, it is a way of opening myself to God within the safety of His love so that I can authentically seek transformation.
Confession and repentance embrace Christ's gift of forgivenenss and restoration while setting us on the path to renewal and change.
Here are a few suggestions of ways to actually practice repentance and confession:
#1 Imagine you are in a safe place surrounded by the love of God.
Ask God to help you see yourself as He sees you. Remember, He sees you absolutely and with love.
Using the Ten Commandments as a guide, journal your sins and shortcomings.
When you have finished, go through each commandment one at a time, asking God to forgive you and help you to change.
Then burn your list in symbolic act of what it means to have God remove your sins from you.
#2 Set aside some time for confession and self-examination.
In the presence of God ask for light to pierce your defenses.
Then, ask yourself ... Who have I injured lately through thoughtlessness, neglect, anger, gossip, and so on?
As the Holy Spirit brings people to mind, confess your feelings about these people to God. Ask God to forgive you and if need be to give you grace to forgive them.
Write an apology, make a phone call or confess out loud to God in an attempt to put the relationship back on track.
#3 Turn to Psalm 32 or Psalm 51.
Use the psalm as a way of bringing your own sins before God.
How does God meet you in these confessions of David?
*From The Spiritual Disciplines Handbook by Adele Calhoun
#4 Also see links related to "Reviewing the Day with God" and "Scripture Meditation Exercise" as both contain practices related to confession and repentance.