Sometimes repentance is hard because we are physically, spiritually and emotionally taking our beings to turn into another direction, one that feels unfamiliar but one that God wants us to inhabit, one that feels uncomfortable, one that feels like a major shift or a stretch in our Christian walk. But let me ask this, would you want to feel comfortable walking in your usual ungodly patterns of life knowing that it leads to death? That is a scary thought, to know your comfort took priority causing you to be blinded by the fact that step by step you are being led to spiritual death and sin that leads to permanent death. The comfort is a disguise! “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 PETER 5:8.

He [The enemy] watches your moves, so he wants you to slip into this delusional comfort knowing fully that it leads to death. HE wants to Pacific you with lies so that you are soothed into deeper sin and this is dangerous. Open your eyes the word says to be WATCHFUL.

Do not be anxious by these thoughts “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4: 6-7. If you choose instead to pray about everything and quiet your voice to hear GOD the Holy Spirit speak in your spirit this is the first and crucial step in the midst of repentance. Praying, listening and acting on what God has said.

HE says to confess your sins and as you do so you are being made free. CONFESS and and ask for forgiveness and he will forgive you, never doubt this thought because God does not lie. Psalms 32:5 KJV. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. David, a great man of faith, strength and perseverance has also struggled which is where this Psalm most likely came from. He struggled with lust and disobedience as we as Christians often do, but he confessed shamelessly and repented. We must look into the word this way and look for examples to follow. This is more than just reading the words on the page but actually looking to it for guidance and ACTING upon it!

1 st step to repentance: PRAYER: CONFESS YOUR SIN or shortcoming.

Release it in prayer

2 nd step to repentance: ASK FOR FORGIVENESS and truly know that you are forgiven don’t second guess it. If you do it means you’re doubting God and who are we to do so. GOD DOES not lie.

3 rd step: ASK GOD FOR YOUR NEXT STEP AND LISTEN: often we get fed up when we don’t hear God answer us right away but be still. Ask and be still to listen, if you’re willing in your heart God will speak to you in gentle ways and even if he doesn’t right away continue to confess any hidden sins and wait on him, his spirit guides us and nudges us in the way we should go when we allow him in. We can’t allow him in with sin still lingering, acknowledge the sin and confess it as sin.

4th step TURN IN THE OPPOSITE WAY this step merges with step 3 and can interchange. In repenting we turn the opposite way. “The Hebrew word we translate as ‘repentance’ is teshuva (‎תשובה, pronounced “teh-shoo-vah”). And teshuva is a lot more than a feeling of guilt or regret. In fact, it derives from the verb ‘to return’! ” taken from https://firmisrael.org/learn/what-did-jesus-mean-by-repent-the-hebrew-meaning-of-teshuva/

So returning looks like turning around to go to clean place, a place where this sin did not exist. That is physically making steps to turn away as well. Whatever you need to do the Spirit will direct it to you. As you turn away physical steps must be made as well, clean out your phone, speak to that person, walk in a different direction, pray and fast, whatever God speaks to you, be obedient. I struggle with this aspect at times so you are not alone but together if we encourage one another we can do this through Christ. I Love you and Christ Loves you more.

Prayer of repentance: [You must mean this from your heart before you begin] God looks at our hearts as we speak so be genuine if you genuinely are sick and tired of living the same way in sin, I know I sure am. Go in a quiet space, close the door if possible and let’s begin:

Dear Heavenly Father I surrender to you my entire being I surrender in prayer this morning/afternoon/evening to you. I confess that I have sinned in ____________________ and have been disobedient in listening to your calling for me, help me to turn completely away, I want to. I desire to be holy as you are holy and I desire to be cleansed, I can’t live like this anymore. I ask that you help me not to give into to the voice of fear becaus sit only seeks to keep me in the same stagnant place but instead I decide to step out and say do what you must in my life to make me fully clean and fully repentant. I turn away today from my sin and help me to do what it takes physically and spiritually to turn in Jesus name I pray Amen.

Reach out if you need additional prayer.

He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me. “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:21‭-‬27 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/jhn.14.21-27.NKJV

May this word sink deep into your hearts and spirits. The word of God is truth, stay close to him by obeying the nudges to read (even when you don’t want to) and resist ignoring the Holy Spirit. HE dwells in us when we allow him.

Pray right now for your obedience and for the Father you dwell within you in uour own words.

ST. LUKE 24 : 13- 40

Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was ^[e]seven miles from Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And they talked together of all these things which had happened. ¹⁵ So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. ¹⁶ But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.

¹⁷ And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you ^[f]walk and are sad?”

¹⁸ Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?”

¹⁹ And He said to them, “What things?”

So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, ²⁰ and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. ²¹ But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. ²² Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. ²³ When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. ²⁴ And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.”

²⁵ Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” ²⁷ And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He ^[g]expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

The Disciples’ Eyes Opened

²⁸ Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He ^[h]indicated that He would have gone farther. ²⁹ But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them.

³⁰ Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. ³¹ Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.

³² And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” ³³ So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, ³⁴ saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” ³⁵ And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was ^[i]known to them in the breaking of bread.

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

³⁶ Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” ³⁷ But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. ³⁸ And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? ³⁹ Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”

^40 [j]When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. ⁴¹ But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?” ⁴² So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish ^[k]and some honeycomb. ⁴³ And He took it and ate in their presence.

It is indeed a lengthy passage tpday but it is needed. HE IS RISEN!

Thank the Lord JESUS CHRIST IS RISEN TODAY AND FOREVERMORE.

And as I was in prayer on this scripture Jesus spoke to me, because he is alive Let him be alive in you. Let him be alive in your workplace, in your school environment, in your projects, in your ministries, in your simple everyday interactions. Because he lives let him live in you.

HAVE A BLESSED RESSURECTION SUNDAY!

Isaiah 53:4-6 King James Version

⁴ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

⁵ But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Good Friday was just yesterday, let’s ponder on these verses that were written almost as a love story to us reminding us of what our LORD AND SAVIOUR has borne for us.

He was wounded for our transgressions – sins that we know are wrong but still do anyway. Think of all the times you knew it was wrong yet you did it anyway and then think of Jesus, thank him for bearing what we wouldn’t have been able to.

He was bruised for our iniquities – our wickedness and sinful nature.

Sometimes even unknown to us we operate in wickedness but our LORD AND SAVIOUR Jesus Christ bore that as well for OUR SAKES.

I know and understand It’s easy to hear these things and flow through the ressurection weekend as normal, but how about this time you actually ponder these things in your heart.

I know for certain I’ve messed up and pondering on the fact that the things I messed up with Jesus bore that for me is absolutely crazy to me. I don’t deserve it but that is what this whole weekend reminds us of. The very things we messed up with just recently Jesus covered all of that through this sacrifice.

May we learn to ponder on this with intentionality rather than seeing it as another commercialised holiday event or occasion, OR seeing it as more of a mini vacation from work or school.

PONDER THIS: This is the time we get to reflect on the fact that we actually have a saviour Jesus Christ, who came down from the Heavenly realms where he rightfully abides to save US from our own WICKEDNESS. Let us ponder on this this weekend.

Lord we repent of all unspoken sins in Jesus name. We can’t possibly thank you enough for all that you bore as a human here on earth but this morning we say thank you. Thank you for your sacrifice, thank you for your MERCY, your unending, unfailing, full mercy, compassion and love for us. That you would send your son for our filth here on earth, we thank you. BLESS your name and help us to see this time through the eyes of reflection and gratitude, because I truly believe it would bring many of us to tears knowing how much you really bore and how our efforts are but filthy rags, it is all through you. BLESS your name we are turning back to you this morning, amen.

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
Colossians 4:6 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/col.4.6.NKJV

As Christians we must learn to season our words with salt (added flavour and value) we must watch how we speak to one another and about one another. Gossip in a negative form is unacceptable and nasty towards yourself and the ones you gossip about. It is unacceptable.

As Paul wrote these letters in the new testament his plea was always to keep him in prayer. As believers would’ve witnessed Paul’s journey being persecuted for the sake of Christ, I am sure they were move internally. Let us therefore take this to heart as Christians. It is time for us to pray for things bigger than ourselves, let us pray for the Paul’s of this generation. That those whonare persecuted would be covered by the blood of the lamb and that they will live to experience the fruit of their labour. Let us hold their hands in prayer as they are ostracized for their faith. We are ALL one body in Christ. Let us hold each other’s burdens in PRAYER.

Prayer: Dear Father we cover [name] under your blood and all other Christians that we know of or that we don’t quite know that are being persecuted for your sake. God we reach them in prayer right now in this moment. We send your MINISTERING angels to reach and compass their surroundings even now as we speak. May they feel the influx of your Holy Spirit abiding in the innermost parts of their space. Cover them with the blood of the lamb and deliver them. We ask and cry out on their behalf for deliverance from evil. BLESS their souls for their obedience and faithfulness to your name and may you protect them with a covering that can only come from you. In Jesus name amen.

If you feel to continue to pray about the way you speak about other believers, or a specific person that comes to mind, feel free to.

Psalm 30King James Version

30 I will extol thee, O Lord; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.

² O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.

³ O Lord, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

⁴ Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

⁵ For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

⁶ And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.

⁷ Lord, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.

⁸ I cried to thee, O Lord; and unto the Lord I made supplication.

⁹ What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?

¹⁰ Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me: Lord, be thou my helper.

¹¹ Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;

¹² To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

This is for you this morning.

Weeping may endure for a night (I see this night symbolic of the dark seasons, the times where things are so in the shadow you can’t see them clearly. This season is dark, may be lonely and may be quiet. But the word says it lasts for the night only. Joy cometh in the morning – joy comes with the light and after every dark season a a light comes, after every period of darkness (such as the night) the sun (the light) comes back around. You can always count on it because God controls the earth and what is in it. Night will always lead back to the day, so be encouraged this morning and use this example in the midst of your “night”, day always comes back around my loves.

Prayer: Father help us in the darkest moments, we lay our agony, discomfort and lonely hearts at your feet. You see us for who we are and we want to see and believe you for who you are as well Your precious word says weeping may endure for a night MY GOD, but JOY cometh in the morning. The morning WILL ALWAYS COME in your name according to your will, so may our mornings come and may be we experience the deep rooted joy of the Lord and the healing that it brings

As astestiminy I can proudly testify that when my father died my night seemed like morning would never come, everything was lonely, dark and miserable but can I tell you that the word is so true? Yes the memory is still there but my love, the seasons change I can now say I am experiencing a joy that only God could’ve brought to me. My life’s circumstances are changing, I am blessed by the Lord and I take no credit whatsoever. This is the season of blessing and I only share his to encourage. – MORNING COMES.

The song goes “I’m going to dance and praise him no matter what comes my way, the greater one lives inside of me. His name is Jesus.”

With this said, we know not to boast in our own doings, but boast in God. He lives in you so you through him have the victory. THIS MEANS DANCE AND PRAISE YOUR WAY OUT OF DEPRESSION AND SUICIDE, you already have the victory over these strong holds.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
² My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

³ He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
⁶ the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

⁷ The Lord will keep you from all harm—
    he will watch over your life;
⁸ the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.

Psalm 121. How powerful. With the victory he has given you, I want you to do two things this morning.

Read this Psalm again, slowly, meant it from your soul. And then click on these next two songs and begin to believe the words you are singing, it is then that you will begin your worship and your praise, your focus will shift on to the problem solver, way maker, El, Elohim, Adonai, The Great I am.

Prayer of the day: Dear Lord, help me to lift up mine eyes to the hill from whence cometh my help, my help comes from you Father you will never suffer my foot to be moved. Elohim, you neither sleep nor slumber God of Israel you are my keeper and the shade upon my right hand, I firmly believe in these words of the Lord. The sun shall not smite me by day even when it feels hot nor the moon by night even when it feels cold and sharp, you shall preserve my soul now and forever more I pray. My help comes from you God and I make this declaration through my life. When I tend to forget God bring me back to tgis place, in Jesus name amen.

NOW REJOICE AND DANCE.

2 Corinthians 1King James Version

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:

² Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

³ Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

⁴ Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

⁵ For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

⁶ And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

⁷ And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.

The God of all comfort knows and understands our needs, knows and understands the persecution we face as modern day Christian’s, knows and feels our emotions. He comforts us through this.

modern day persecution may look like judgment, gossip and laughter/making fun of you for praying, worshipping, and overall just being a Christian.

It may come with your posts on social media, your stance on a topical issue, your dress, your morals. Persecution can come from these modern day things and what we must learn that throughout all of this God comforts us because he knew of it before hand. He empathizes with us and he understands us deeper than our own understanding of ourselves. What brought me comfort this morning is that God of all creation comforts me. Rest with that as you step out in faith, or even as you feel defeated by life’s circumstances. You are not. You are so comforted in this moment.

Dear Father, remind us of your love and grace that helps us through the hardest trials, remind us that your word literally says you comfort us, help us to believe that. We have a comforter, we can cry, we can vent, we can be ourselves in your presence. You comfort us, heal us today Lord in Jesus name amen!

us through this

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
Philippians 2:13 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/php.2.13.NLT

Even when strength feels like it is lost, we can’t always depend on feelings. Believe the word of God. He said he is working in you, let him. He said he is giving you the power and the desire, let him. Let him do it in you, follow his prompt voice, his gentle sway, his leading and go.

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
James 1:27 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jas.1.27.NLT

Proverbs 13:3; “Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.”

Proverbs 18:21 confirms this by saying, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”

The bible never lies because it is the word of God and the word of God is truth. He is the way the truth and the life that we should abide in and live by.

Today, watch your tongue, the word declares to guard your mouth because whoever opens his lips wide comes to ruin. It also speaks that pure and genuine religion is to care for orphans and widows and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

In order for us to follow these steps practically, we must ask God to keep our intentions pure and to keep close to his way. Ask him to show you someone in need today, he will not fail to do that, and give to them. Whether it be encouragement, finances, a hug, prayer or help, just give what you can to them today. Spend time watching the words that come out of your mouth.

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger James 1:19. Guard your words as the wise do, bever speak out of turn and when that situation you fear arises remember only you are in control of how you react. Practically tune your ears in to what you hear God is saying and do it without a fleshly response.

This takes practice and great self control but the bible speaks on these things that keep us pure and genuine in our walk with him. GOD BLESS YOU today as you go throughout your day leave a comment on how you have helped someone, controlled your tongue or reaction and/or where you plan to.

Dear Father, give us the self control needed to respond in ways that honour your name because we not only represent our names but yours. Help us to remember we are no longer apart of the world so there is no need to act like we do. Let us therefore walk differently, talk differently and respond differently in Jesus name. Show us people who need our service and ministry, swing wide the gates of opportunity to be ou’re in deeds, because faith and action go together, in Jesus name we pray, be with us today! Amen.