DAY #1: CONFESSION WITHOUT SORROW
The first and foremost thing that we must do after we sin is repent. To repent is not just to say sorry to God for our sins but to feel sorrow toward God for our sins as well. If our heart is gentle it will be easy for us to repent. However, if our heart is hardened because we have sinned repeatedly, it will not be easy for us to repent. We may be able to say sorry to God for our sins, but we will not feel sorrow in our heart toward God. In this case, we only confess our sins, but we do not truly repent from our sins.
DAY #2: A BROKEN AND CONTRITE HEART
What must we do if we find ourselves that we do not feel sorrow for our sins when we confess our sins? We must humble ourselves and ask for the mercy of God to make our heart broken and contrite. King David wrote, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise." (Psalms 51:17) Why did King David write that a broken and a contrite heart was the sacrifice of God? It is because to have a broken and a contrite heart is not something that is going to happen to us automatically when our heart has been hardened, no matter how strongly we desire it. We must rend our heart first, but to do that we need to humble ourselves and seek His mercy. Often, it is necessary for us to fast, to weep, and to mourn before we can rend our heart (Joel 2:12-13). That is why to have a broken and a contrite heart is a sacrifice.
DAY #3: BREAKING UP THE FALLOW GROUND
When we do not feel sorrow for our sins due to the hardening of our hearts, then it is time for us to seek the Lord. We must break up our hearts because they have become like fallow ground. How? We must sow for ourselves righteousness by humbling ourselves in the sight of the Lord and speak His words to our hearts until He comes and rains righteousness on us. Then, our hearts will become gentle and we shall reap in mercy. Hosea the prophet said, "Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, till He comes and rains righteousness on you." (Hosea 10:12)
DAY #4: A CHANGE OF MIND
What is repentance? Repentance is a change of mind. This change of mind is to the opposite direction. When we repent from our sins, it means we totally change our minds about our sins. Before we repent, we will think our sins are not exceedingly sinful. But after we repent, we will think our sins are exceedingly sinful. Before we repent, we will make excuses or cover our sins. But after we repent, we will confess and forsake them. King Solomon wrote, "He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy." (Proverbs 28:13)
DAY #5: THE FEAR OF GOD’S PUNISHMENT
What makes us repent from our sins? Is it the fear of God’s judgment and punishment? Or, is it the fear of the consequences of our sins? Neither. Repentance never takes place in our hearts because we suddenly become afraid of God’s judgment or afraid of the consequences of our sins. Fear of God’s judgement or the consequences of our sins may stop us from sinning, but it will not change our minds toward sin nor turn our hearts toward God. Change of action without change of heart or mind is not repentance.
DAY #6: THE GOODNESS OF GOD AND SORROW OF THE HEART
The apostle Paul wrote, “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4) and “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.” (2 Corinthians 7:9) Repentance takes place in our hearts when we suddenly realize that we have despised the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering and that causes us to be very sorrowful. It is the goodness of God, not the judgment of God, which leads us to repentance. It is the goodness, patience and kindness of a mother that eventually makes her son who has been naughty and rebellious cry with sorrow, feeling sorry for how he has been toward her.
DAY #7: BEARING FRUIT WORTHY OF REPENTANCE
John the Baptist said, "Bear fruit worthy of repentance." (Matthew 3:8) Repentance is like a tree. A tree starts with the root inside the ground and ends with the fruits above the ground. We cannot see the root, but we can see the fruits. Likewise, repentance starts with the decision in our hearts and minds, but it will eventually manifest in our actions. The actions produced after repentance will be the opposite of those before repentance. The apostle Paul wrote, "Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers." (Ephesians 4:28-29)
