A Daily Purpose

Bible Study & Devotional Day 99

Written By Torrie Slaughter

🔴A New Attitude?

Before we dive into the Bible reading, let’s define a few words we will come across:

Shame a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior.
Suffering, in a broad sense, may be an experience of unpleasantness and aversion associated with the perception of harm or threat of damage in an individual.
Repentance is the activity of reviewing one’s actions and feeling contrition or regret for past wrongs, accompanied by a commitment to and actual actions that show and prove a change for the better.
Obedience is generally distinguished from compliance, which is behavior influenced by peers, and from conformity, which is behavior intended to match that of the majority.
Fruit the effect or consequence of an action or operation.

With those definitions in mind, let’s review the steps of repentance. This list represents a general approach; however, if you meditate on Psalm 51:1-17, King David’s example of seeking God’s forgiveness shows us how to repent without being defensive. That helps us authentically turn to our Lord and not repeat sinfulness.

Steps of Repentance:

Acknowledging the sin.
Confessing the sin.
Asking forgiveness.
Turning away from the sin.
Restoring the wrong done.

God gives us repeated opportunities to correct our behavior. Over the last few weeks, I am in awe of just how patient my Abba Father is. However, that does not free me from the consequences of my actions. When we carry ourselves with an attitude of humility, God’s Word teaches that we will hold ourselves accountable, take responsibility, and remember our posture.

As you read today’s scriptures, think about how you’ve changed:

Has the Lord transformed your heart?
Have you corrected behaviors and set boundaries within relationships and work environments?
Are you seeking revenge or feeling stuck in shame?

Pay close attention to Luke 13:1-10 and ask God to reveal times you doubted Him. The fear of letting go of anger, frustration, guilt, and shame are characteristics that keep us from embracing our purpose. God is calling you to do great work! Learn to trust in Him and not lean to your understanding. Remember, for every cause; there is an effect. What do you want your actions to reveal?

God sees through to the heart no matter the status of our faith.

Mark 12:30-31 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Take off the mourning clothes and rejoice in this new day. It is a gift because God has allowed you to see the present. You are loved.