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Feeling far from God?

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Woman praying

We are people who are broken.  We have broken relationships, broken dreams, broken down bodies, broken down cars and the list goes on.  Life is not a fairy tale.  Life hurts.

Sometimes, our fellowship with God is broken too.  Most of us experience seasons when we feel extremely close to God.  We also experience season when we feel far from Him.  God desires for us to know Him and to enjoy fellowship with Him (Jeremiah 9:23-24).  He desires for us to walk closely with Him as we live out our faith (1 John 4:6).

When you and I feel far from God, we need to remember that our sins affect our fellowship with Him.  When we receive Christ as our Savior, we belong to Him and nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39), but sin inhibits our fellowship with God.  When I am caught up in sin, whether it is private or public, my heart is not focused on the things of God.  Instead, my heart is focused on myself and what feels good for me.

When our fellowship with God is broken, we need to repent, turn away from our sins and turn back to Him.

Take a look at a few verses we find related to repentance:

  • “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”  Luke 15:7

  • “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?”  Romans 2:4

  • “Because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.” (Rom 2:5)

  • “Should God then reward you on your terms, when you refuse to repent?”  Job 34:33a

  • “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Pet 3:9)

  • “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.” Revelation 3:19

  • “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  1 John 1:9

One Greek word used for repentance is metanoeo which means “to change one’s mind and purpose, as the result of after knowledge.”  Repentance means we see our sin.  We feel guilty for our sin.  We hate our sin.   Saying, “I’m sorry” and continuing to sin again and again is not true repentance.  True repentance is yielding to the work of the Holy Spirit by turning away from sin and returning to God.

If you feel far from God, I want you to know that there is a way to get back into a right fellowship with Him.  Here are some things we learn from scripture:

  • Get alone with God  (Mark 1:35)
  • Approach His throne with a humble heart (1 Peter 5:6)
  • Listen for the Holy Spirit (John 10:27-28)
  • Confess your sins to Him (including those private sins that no one else knows about) (1 John 1:9)
  • Cry out to Him (Psalm 18:6)
  • Make necessary changes and turn away from your sins (Acts 3:19)
  • Turn back to God by seeking after Him with all of who you are (Deuteronomy 4:29)

God is faithful to forgive and He can restore!  Restoration is found down the road of repentance.

Thankful for you!

~Joy

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1 Comment

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    Sharon Wilcox
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    Great word for what we are going through right now!!Thanks Joy..God Bless!!

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