A Renewal of Repentance
What do you do when you know you are not where you need to be in your relationship with God? How about in your relationship with your neighbor, or with yourself?
You can keep going in the direction you are headed, or you can change course.
The saying goes, “The definition of insanity is doing what you have always done and expecting different results.” It is the same in our relationship with God.
God spoke to the sinful people of Judah through the prophet Joel, saying, “‘Yet even now,’ declares the Lord, ‘return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God?” (Joel 2:12-14, ESV).
It is never too late to repent, to change course, and to turn back to God. No matter where we find ourselves, or how far we are off the mark, “even now” we can return to the Lord.
May we have a renewal of repentance and turn toward our God, who is “gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love,” and may we find God’s forgiveness and love, his removal of judgement, and his blessing in place of what we deserve.
A Prayer Based on the Proper Preface for Lent: Oh, Lord, “You bid your faithful people cleanse their hearts, and prepare with joy for the Paschal feast; that, fervent in prayer and in works of mercy, and renewed by your Word and Sacraments, they may come to the fullness of grace which you have prepared for those who love you.” Help us to repent and turn to you, trusting in your goodness, mercy, and love, and trusting in your desire to forgive, to relent, and to give blessings to your children. Through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, 2019).
A Prayer for Ash Wednesday: “Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made, and you forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer, 2019).
