As I have contemplated repentance, I’ve constantly been asking myself, “How can I repent more?” What I mean is, how can I be more like Jesus and less like Wes?
Repentance by its very nature implies that there must be change. And not just any change, there must be dramatic change; Change from wrong to right.
Sometimes the required change is an external change. I’m physically doing something that I shouldn’t and I need to stop doing that thing and do a good thing instead.
Sometimes the required change is an internal change. This will be a change that entails changing the way that I think about a particular subject. When these internal changes are made in the mind, the inevitable result is a change in heart.
I’ve thought a lot about what hinders us, and me specifically, from true repentance. One thing that I’ve identified is simply a lack of change in the patterns of my life and the patterns of my thinking.
If I don’t change what I physically do, repentance is hard, and maybe impossible. If I don’t reconsider the way that I think, repentance is equally hard, and again, maybe impossible.
I’m not sure who said it first, but I’ve heard in many settings, this saying, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
Not to be too nitpicky, but I don’t care for the saying as it is commonly phrased. I would instead say, “If you want to make yourself insane, simply do the same thing over and over again and expect different results.”
Insanity is the result. It’s a good saying, however you like it best, because it’s so easy to identify with personally. We’ve all done the same things time and time again. We’ve all been surprised when the results didn’t change, even though there was no reason for them to change.
The same is true of true repentance. If there is no fruit of true repentance in your life, in other words, real, noticeable differences, there’s a good chance that you haven’t changed anything.
You want change. You greatly desire change. You don’t like the current state of things in your life. But have you made any changes?
Start small and big changes will follow. Following Jesus doesn’t look like a life of making big decisions; Following Jesus is made up of small details. Following Jesus is considering all things and then making the next right decision. And then the next right decision. And then the next right decision.
And we won’t always get it right, but that’s where grace comes in. That’s when His blood comes and continually washes us. But don’t allow a wrong decision to lead to another. Dust yourself off and make the next right decision.
Repentance isn’t all about rule following. It’s about glorifying God by constantly and continually turning to Him. Don’t get stuck! Make a change.
Much Love!
Wes LeFlore (918) 607-8489 or huskerwes1@gmail.com
