Repent

 The sins piled up over the course of a couple of years. Blind spots not easily detected. Little weeds in the garden that took root and were choking out the rest of the garden. Those weeds had to be pulled out by the roots. One by one. 

Repentance was in order. Repent means to feel regret and remorse for wrong doings. It also involves changing course and resetting the mind. That is what I needed, but too blind to see it. For days I prayed feverishly and fasted just to hear from God. Hour upon hour He was silent. Days on end. Month after month. I couldn't understand it. I pleaded with God to show me what I was doing wrong or what it was that hindered Him from speaking to me. I read His word. I got up early to pray. I earnestly desired to hear from Him more than anything else in my life. 

Like a clogged hose where something obstructs the flow of water, sin obstructed my hearing from God. Little sins I did not even notice. They crept in subtly. Sins like apathy, doubt, callused heart, compromise, bitterness, and lukewarm devotions. The list was longer than I suspected. I had to repent and come clean. I confessed those sins and asked God to forgive me. [I Jn 1:9] He is faithful to do that. 

I prayed and asked God to speak. He impressed a certain verse on my mind. I did not know what it said and hurriedly looked it up. It was a specific verse about something I've prayed for a year and a half. Right there in black and white. The answer I long sought was there all the while. It was my sin that kept me from receiving it. [Ps 66:18] reminds us that if we regard wickedness in our hearts God will not hear. 

We do not take repentance nearly as seriously as God does. Our sin hinders our fellowship with Him. Our transgressions can also choke the powerful move of His Spirit in our lives and churches. This happens all the time. We may do the devotions and wander through worship, but we do not connect with God because our sin gets in the way. God hates our sin much more than we do. He wants to uproot it from our lives. 

[Ps 119:23-24] Search me O God, and know my heart, try me and know my anxious thoughts. And see if there be any hurtful way in me and lead me in the everlasting way. 

[Ps 51:10] Create in me a clean heart O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 

It is time for the people of God to do some housecleaning. To do some weed pulling. If we want the power of God to flow through our lives and churches, we must repent first. Repentance is the first step leading toward revival. Our hearts and congregations certainly could use a fresh move among us once again. Things have grown stale. The religious rituals have become rotten with routine, and not refreshed with the spirit of revival. May it begin in us today and spread. Let it begin with repentance.