So what is a repentant heart? How do you know that you have picked up your cross and denied the lusts that were easily entertained? Why then is it imperative to put God first before…(you fill in the blank)? Remember: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable, unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1 KJV). Since we are Christ’s, we seek him first (Matthew 6:33), then we crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts (Galatians 5:24). James 1:12 encourages us by mentioning, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised them that love him.” Therefore, our faith should be matched by our obedience to Him in all circumstances. I say this because how is God getting the glory in your selfishness or sin?
Dictionary: A repentant heart is one that is always seeking to follow the ways of God. Do you think that Jesus served with a repentant heart? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
Repentance is more than just an “I’m sorry” statement filled with word babble that satisfies the ears. This type of reaching out pleads for a renewing of the mind, where one details from his or her heart that they don’t understand why certain actions are done, and they are tired of the same responses to behavioral cues conducted. It’s a heart’s cry for something to change, and truly wanting the Lord our God to mitigate the affliction. When I was prayed for and received healing over a lifelong affliction with allergies and I was attacked again nearly 6-8 months later, I stood on that healing, claimed it out loud, and felt the enemy flee. If I would have accepted in my heart that God didn’t heal me, then the ramification may have been less than efficacious now!
Jesus tells, if one does not have the Spirit fill what was rooted out, then the enemy will come back and see that the house has been swept clean, bring 7 other demons with him to fill the house, and that the state of that person will be worse than at first. We need to operate from the spirit, where there are no barriers to light, for it’s perpetual! Greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. Purify the heart by cleansing the mind. Remember, repentance is a heart issue indeed.