Good morning people who turn to God
Repentance is a positive word and it is a powerful thing that we do. Repentance is evidence of godliness, not weakness.
Matthew 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
I have most often heard the word repentance defined as turning around and going in the opposite direction. I’ve heard it referred to in a military sense of “Repent!” as an instruction to turn around.
I believe this is the correct fruit of repentance but in this passage the word repent means something different.
The word Jesus used here literally means to think differently.
This makes sense to me and I believe it is so powerful when we understand it. I believe the result of thinking differently, thinking as Christ would, will result in us turning around and going in the opposite direction.
The problem many times in my life has been a focus on trying to go in the opposite direction without first having a change of thinking. Our brains are wired to return to our default setting and that is carnal thinking. That’s why the Bible declares the following truth.
Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is