Tune in as Leslie begins a new series on what it means for God to walk us through a personal revival season. Instead of approaching the repentance and cleansing process in fearful intimidation full of what-ifs, Leslie shares how true repentance brings the fullest freedom and what-ifs joy we could ever imagine – when we follow God’s pattern for true restoration. This week discover how to embrace conviction and reject condemnation that leads to unhindered intimacy with your King and a vibrant prayer life!
PODCAST TRANSCRIPT
Psalm 51:10 says, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” In the next two episodes, we are going to look at what it means for God to create a clean heart within us. Maybe you once had a passionate spiritual fire for Christ but over time that has waned. Or maybe you feel that your prayers are hitting the ceiling and the Word of God seems dull and disinteresting. If spiritual apathy has crept in and you don’t know where it’s coming from, the way back to Jesus begins with a humble prayer, “Lord, show me why there is a barrier between my relationships with You.” This is a prayer He will lovingly answer!
Psalm 24:3 mentions that those who have “clean hands and a pure heart” are invited into God’s presence. Repentance and cleansing is needed in order to restore your relationship with Christ. Go before God and ask that every past and present sin that hasn’t been dealt with would be brought to your mind. As God reveals what may be hindering your intimacy with Him – and making your hands and heart impure – realize that Jesus isn’t condemning you but inviting you to experience His forgiveness and restoration. His desire is not to have anything hindering your relationship with Him!
The cleansing and repenting process is two-fold. We must first make things right with God and then with those we have offended. It is also important to realize that as you confess areas of your life to God, there may be practical steps you need to take in order to remove remnants of past sin that still have a hold on your heart. Prayerfully evaluate your media, wardrobe, technology, relationships, and belongings and remove anything that leads you back to sin or a season in your life that was marked by compromise.
There is beauty, freedom, and joy in dealing with sin the right way. Instead of shying away from remorse and conviction, allow God to shine His searchlight in your soul and cleanse the dross from your inner life. Scripture mentions the phrase the “beauty of holiness” several times, which stands to reason that to be cleansed from sinful strongholds is a beautiful privilege that was made possible by Jesus’ blood. In order to experience the beauty of holiness, we must welcome His conviction rather than push it away, acknowledge our sins instead of justify them, and repent so that He can make us new – no matter how hard or humbling the process may be.
Embrace Conviction & Reject Condemnation
It is important not to confuse God’s conviction with the enemy’s condemnation. God’s Word says that, “For whom the LORD loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights” (Prov. 3:12). If you are feeling conviction, it’s not a sign of God’s disgust and anger, but of HIs great love. Conviction is always paired with hope, contains an invitation to be made more like Jesus, and provides the opportunity to enter into deeper fellowship with Him.
Final Thoughts
It may feel uncomfortable in the moment, but this is the path that leads to the greatest freedom and joy! If you feel God’s conviction it is because God loves you and delights in you. Embrace and receive His correction, knowing that it leads to life and not death. Next week Leslie will continue this series on personal revival!
Key Scriptures
- Psalm 51:10
- Psalm 24:3
- Psalm 139:23
- Proverbs 3:12
- 1 John 1:9
Recommended Resources
- To take this subject deeper visit our online collection and read Emptying the Backpack to learn more about personal revival.
