It says this in 2 Corinthians 7:8-10, “For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it;
though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry,
though only for a while. Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that
your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that
you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance
leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces
death.”
Read what Paul told the church in Corinth about their repentance
and the things it brought forth in these people’s lives in verse 11, “For observe this very thing, that you
sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of
yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what
vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.”
Repentance brought carefulness, clearing of self, indignation,
fear, vehement desire, zeal, revenge. It
doesn’t say it here but repentance releases you and restores fellowship with
the Lord; it brings peace and joy within those who repent and it sets the repentant
heart free. Repentance and confession
are very important in a believer’s life.
This is what it says in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I think some people may have a hard time
confessing sins because they may think they will not be forgiven or they think their
sins are more horrible than someone else’s are.
This is what the good Lord said to the lukewarm church of the
Laodiceans in Revelations 3:20, “Behold,
I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I
will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”
God is calling His people, the church, to repentance. Read what it says in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “if My people who are called by My name will
humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways,
then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
God spoke this after Solomon prayed his dedication prayer
and if we are God’s people I think He expects the same of us.
As far as the un-believer I don’t think that God listens to
their prayers because it says this in Isaiah 59:1-4, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His
ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from
your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not
hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity;
your lips have spoken lies, your tongue has muttered perversity. No one calls
for justice, nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words and speak
lies; they conceive evil and bring forth iniquity.”
But for the un-believer there is one prayer I think the Lord
always listens to and that is the repentant prayer from a humble and contrite
heart. If you are worrying about
confession, God knew what you were going to do before you did it, so you are
not going to shock Him. So humble
yourself before the Lord and seek His forgiveness; confess and repent of your
sins and tell Him you are sorry and ask Him to be your Lord and Savior. If you are sincere I believe He will listen
and answer your prayer but don’t be in a hurry, wait on the Lord and let Him
fill you with His peace, love and joy; then you can walk away rejoicing and
praising the Lord. Then pray and ask the
Lord to lead you to the congregation He would like you to be a part of and get
into the Word of God and start studying and growing in the Lord, by putting the
truth you learn into practice. Something
to think about and have a great day and may the good bless you and yours!!
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