Did you know that our behavior and negative discussions we have are an offense to the Lord?

Have you ever done something and after you did it, you wondered why you did it? Actually, before you did it, you knew it was wrong but you tried to justify why it was okay or you just simply decided to do what you wanted to and suffer the consequences later.

Repenting is not just acknowledging what you have done and then going back. If you go back to what you left or what was hurting you, maybe you have never been sincere with your repentance or you did not make a full turn. One thing I do know is that deliverance is REAL. When you become sincere with the Lord and cut off everything that is not like Him, He will place His arms of compassion around you and keep you from falling.

Now to Him who is able to keep you from falling, And to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen. (Jude 1:24-25)

You mean to tell me, this same Jesus who has all power and dominion NOW AND FOREVER cannot keep you? Sure He can. He is able to keep us from falling but we have to want to be kept. Repenting is not just an act of repeating words. There has to be actions to support what you are saying. Turning carries an action. It means you are doing something. To turn your head, you have to physically move your neck. To make a turn in your vehicle, you have to physically have your hands on the wheel to direct the vehicle to move in the direction you need. Turning changes your complete position (I hear you Jesus).

Turn: To cause your body or a part of your body to face a different direction.

Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.
(Acts 3:19)

This scripture describes the process:
Repent AND Turn
Repent AND Turn
Repent AND Turn
Repent AND Turn

To turn from your own ways and adhere to the ways of Jesus, you have to take a physical act that will produce a spiritual effect.

The Physical Process
1. Separating yourself from who or whatever caused you to err (2 Corinthians 6:17)
2. Humbling yourself, praying and seeking the Lord (2 Chronicles 7:14)

The Spiritual Process
The spiritual effect will result in what 2 Chronicles states, then you will hear from heaven, your sins will be forgiven and God will heal and restore.

I don’t know why people paint this picture of God being unloving, when He created love. He is in our best interest. But God really knows us. He does not put up with our shenanigans and foolery because He knows that we are without excuse.

Just as there are guidelines and rules you have to follow on your job, or things you will not stand for from your children, such as disrespect, God has standards also. His standard is He cannot be associated with sin…period. If sin lives in us or we practice sin, we disassociate ourselves with Him and choose to become connected with the lust, flesh and the world.

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy,
That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.Isaiah 59:1-2 (NKJV)

Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways! Haggai 1:7 (NKJV)

As we consider our ways and our walk, think about this scripture and how loving the Lord is. When someone loves you and does all they can for you, it should not be too difficult to demonstrate our gratitude and love back towards them.

But if wicked people turn away from all their sins and begin to obey my decrees and do what is just and right, they will surely live and not die. All their past sins will be forgotten, and they will live because of the righteous things they have done. “Do you think that I like to see wicked people die? Says the Sovereign Lord. Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live. Ezekiel 18:21-23 (NLT)