Repentance
This week, Dan talks about the heart of repentance: changing your mind. Repentance is not just about turning from “secret sin.” Repentance is a discipline of spiritual renewal practiced by the most successful god-chasers in history.
Seen this way, repentance is actually the way we cultivate three postures: surrender (am I in control?), brokenness (what do I bring to the table?), and vulnerability (do I really need others?).
Here are some ways we can go deeper with repentance this week.
Going deeper with Christ
Repentance in this area is about cultivating the posture of surrender with your time, your relationships, and your resources. Here’s what you can do:
STEP ONE: Find a quiet place for ten minutes of silent reflection and contemplation. Ask God, “where am I still in control?” What you’re really trying to identify are areas where your “obedience gap” is broad: if God asked you to use a particular resource in some way, would you joyfully obey, or would you balk? If the latter, you know you’ve found an area for greater surrender.
Another question you could ask God is this: “what do I need to leave behind?” What you’re trying to detect here are areas where the good is getting in the way of the best, for your heart, for your family, for your relationship with God.
Whatever you sense in this time of quiet, write it down so you don’t forget it.
STEP TWO: Commit to surrender in these areas for the next 30 days. Each day, refresh your commitment to surrender with a simple prayer at the start of the day that reminds you and God of where you’re relinquishing control. If you’ve identified something good that is getting in the way of the best, consider fasting from that during this time (sweets, social media, political discussions, a hobby, etc.). Then, each evening, take just two or three minutes to look back over the day and reflect on whether or not you cultivated surrender that day. You may even keep a journal for the 30 days.
Going deeper with community
Repentance in this area is about cultivating the posture of vulnerability, about recognizing and leaning into your need for others. Vulnerability is not mostly about admitting fault and weakness; vulnerability is about being present in our relationships with authenticity, and offering ourselves in strength. Here’s how to do it:
STEP ONE: Find a quiet place for ten minutes of reflection and survey your core relationships (spouse, boss, friends, business partner, children, etc.) to identify two things: where in my relationships have I given too little out of a fear of being hurt or betrayed, and where in my relationships am I giving too much in an effort to keep someone happy?
You’re looking for a specific behavior/dynamic in a specific relationship. Maybe you over-apologize because you’re afraid the other person will be angry. Or maybe you have a bad habit of sharing too much, too deep, too fast and you need to be more judicious. Or maybe you default to a sarcastic tone so that no one ever knows how you really feel, and you don’t have to risk rejection.
When you identify these areas, writhe them down so you do not forget them.
STEP TWO: Commit to talking to this person about this problem after a period of prayer. You might say to this person, “Hey, can we find time next week to talk about something important? I’ve come to understand ways that I’m operating around you that aren’t healthy, and I’d like to share them with you.” Then pray for your relationship every day, and even jot down some key phrases and insights that will help you communicate.
And then commit to operate differently for 30 days. If you over apologize, consider going on hiatus from saying “I’m sorry.” Or you might commit to stop being sarcastic. Whatever you do, It will feel awful at first — you’re going against your instincts of self-preservation — but you will learn when a heartfelt apology is truly appropriate and powerful, or how to share your opinions in a way that is direct and helpful.
Going deeper with your calling
Repentance in this area is about cultivating the posture of brokenness, or “what do I bring to the table.”
When you think about you Front Yard Mission and loving you neighbors, are you approaching them like projects, like something broken that needs fixed, and that you’re bringing the solution? Or are you coming instead with your desperate dependence on God?
This week’s track is designed to help you retrace the prayerful posture of Nehemiah. Follow the link below for this weeks FYM track which will guide you in crafting your own Nehemiah prayer.