How To Have More Joy Through Repentance

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Sin hurts you, God, and others but God offers each of us a way to heal and live with joy. Repentance. Humbly asking for forgiveness. God may not remove the consequences but He will remove the shame.

David was guilty of pride, sexual sin, and murder.

He was guilty and he knew he was guilty.

Psalm 51 shares David’s words of repentance. No excuses. No blame. Just a sorrowful confession of guilt and a plea for forgiveness.

Have mercy on me, O God,
    because of Your unfailing love.
Because of Your great compassion,
    blot out the stain of my sins.
Wash me clean from my guilt.
    Purify me from my sin.
For I recognize my rebellion;
    it haunts me day and night.
Against You, and You alone, have I sinned;
    I have done what is evil in Your sight.
You will be proved right in what You say,
    and Your judgment against me is just.

Psalm 51:1–4

David had used his position and authority to have sex with a married woman . . . an act that resulted in pregnancy. Then to hide his sin, he had her husband murdered.

He sinned against God. Victimized Bathsheba and her husband, Uriah. And all the individuals connected to them bore the consequences of David’s sinful choices.

All sin brings about suffering.

It’s interesting, people are inclined to rank sins and most of us would rank David’s sins among the worst. But as we read through his words of confession and repentance, it’s important for us to remember that all sin, every sin, deserves God’s punishment.

Sin is defined as “anything contrary to the commands or will of God.”

The enemy has prompted people to doubt the truth of the Bible because he knows that tempts them to question God’s commands and will . . . to say that sin is no longer sin. But when we deny or excuse our sinfulness we make the sacrificial love of Jesus irrelevant.

But maybe that’s the devil’s goal.

But God has given us His Spirit to help. We can resist the devil’s temptation and call sin exactly what it is and repent.

Praise God! David gave the perfect example of true repentance.

Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a loyal spirit within me.
Do not banish me from Your presence,
    and don’t take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
    and make me willing to obey You.

Psalm 51:10–12

Because of God’s unfailing love and Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, the curtain of the Temple has been torn in two and we are invited to confidently go to God in faith with repentance asking Him to wash away our sins and give us hearts of obedience.

If you’re carrying a burden of sin…

  1. Humbly go to God’s throne of mercy and grace in prayer. (2 Chronicles 7:14)
  2. Confess your sins. (1 John 1:9)
  3. Ask Him for forgiveness. (Matthew 6:12)
  4. Trust His promise to wash you clean of guilt and sin. (Hebrews 10:22–23)
  5. Give Him Praise, tell of His love, and live with joy. (Psalm 71:23)
Sin hurts you, God, and others but God offers each of us a way to heal and live with joy. Repentance. Humbly asking for forgiveness. God may not remove the consequences but He will remove the shame.

Let’s pray…

A Prayer of Repentance — Gratitude and Joy

Father, Your Word reveals human sinfulness has been part of our world since Adam and Eve gave in to temptation and took a bite of the fruit. It shares extensive accounts of individuals who disobeyed Your will and harmed one another. David was no exception . . . yet, You called him, “a man after my own heart who will carry out my will.” (Acts 13:22) Not because he was perfect. Not because he didn’t sin. Not because he only committed “little sins.” But because he humbly came to You in repentance when he disobeyed.

He admitted his sin, asked You for forgiveness, and asked You to help him change. He prayed for a clean heart and a renewed spirit. He asked to be willing to obediently trust Your will and follow Your commands.

Father, I come to You with a humble heart asking You to forgive me. Please change my thoughts and attitudes and give me the desire and will to obey. I don’t want to hurt You or the people around me. I want to shine the light of Your love and bless others.

Thank you for Jesus, the One through whom I am forgiven. The One who gives me the strength I need to trust and obey even when it feels impossible. (Philippians 4:13) I surrender my life to You and ask You to give me all I need to live each day for Your glory. Amen.

Sin hurts you, God, and others but God offers each of us a way to heal and live with joy. Repentance. Humbly asking for forgiveness. God may not remove the consequences but He will remove the shame.

David added the following…

My God, You are the One who saves me!
Let me sing about all the good things You do for me!
My Lord, I will open my mouth and sing Your praises!
You don’t really want sacrifices,
    or I would give them to You.
The sacrifice that God wants is a humble spirit.
    God, You will not turn away someone who comes
with a humble heart and is willing to obey You.

Psalm 51:14b–17 (ERV)

That’s JOY!

God may not remove the consequences of our sins but He will always forgive a humble repentant heart.

And honestly, if the Lord never gave us another thing besides forgiveness and the promise of an eternity in His presence in heaven that would be reason enough to sing His praises . . . reason to live with joy.

Oh, what joy for those
    whose disobedience is forgiven,
    whose sin is put out of sight!

Psalm 32:1

May God bless you with a heart of humble repentance and fill you with overwhelming joy knowing that you are forgiven and loved now and forever.

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19 Comments

    1. His grace is sufficient! He is everything we need. Blessings, my friend!

  1. Kathy Francescon says:

    What powerful and uplifting words this morning Deb, to start off our week! I know I fall so short and sin against the Lord everyday! Never intentionally, but yet the devil still sneaks in through every nook and cranny he can find! I humbly submit my weaknesses and ask God’s forgiveness for all sin, great or small. Thank You for guidance and for laying repentance on my heart this morning! Blessing to you, Deb and to all those whose heart you fill with hope today!

    1. Hi Kathy,

      I missed you over the weekend. So glad to see and agree with your comment today. I am grateful for you and for the others who post such wisdom and love. Thankful and grateful for Deb, who continues to bless us with her wisdom.

      1. Kathy Francescon says:

        Thank you so much Sue! Your sweet words lifted my heart! It was one of those busy wkends, and though I read Deb’s post and I love reading the comments, I didn’t have time to respond! And I looved your comments on this post! I do feel such a connection to you and those of us who hook up with Deb’s posts! It truly is a blessing to be a part of God loving, and “trying so hard to live trusting and faithful lives with God” friends! I know we each have challenges we are facing and enduring and an encouraging word helps so much! Thank You dear friend! I always look for your posts too and feel the depth of your faith and love for God and for all of us!! May God shower you with blessings for all your kindness and encouragement! You just don’t know how your posts are such blessings to me! Love and hugs sweet Sue! What a dear friend you have become!! ????????????????

        1. Thank you Kathy. You are the “sunshine” in my day today. It is so nice to know you through these posts. You are a sweetheart and have become a dear friend to me as well.

    2. Thank you once again, Kathy! Your words are a blessing. You inspire us all with your faith and testimony of God’s love and forgiveness. Thank you for the way you reach out to others who are commenting and encouraging them with kindness and God’s love. I’m so thankful for you, sweet friend!

  2. I love how you brought out the purpose of David writing Psalm 51. Great post today.

    1. Thank you, Jennifer. I truly appreciate your kind encouragement. God be with you and bless you!

  3. Yes, sin is something that we have to deal with every day in every way. The devil does attack us in our weakest areas and tries to bring us down. Thankfully we have a God who is full of mercy and love and kindness, giving us chance after chance for repentance. My greatest desire in life is to be obedient to the Lord. And, it is not always easy. Temptations beckon around every corner. All kinds. Having these posts that you give and having all of the wonderful people who respond is a blessing to help us all keep in check. I am grateful!! God bless you all and, Deb, you and your family are ever in my prayers. Love and hugs to all!

    1. Amen, Sue! Knowing and experiencing God’s mercy, love, and kindness give me strength and hope each day. As the enemy works constantly to tempt and annoy it’s hard not to let him distract us at moments. Oh, how he knows and uses our weaknesses against us. God’s forgiveness is such an awesome assurance for our souls.

      I truly appreciate your kind words of encouragement. It blesses me so very much to see you and Kathy use this space as a place to connect with each other. Your words encourage all of us. Thank you! God is using you to share His love. Hugs!

      1. Thank you Deb. It is nice that we cal all connect here. I truly believe that we all need encouragement. And, you are so wonderful, sweet and compassionate to all. You are remarkable! Having such great strength, that can only come from God, with the things you are going through. I know it is not easy. You and your family are in my prayers.
        When I first saw this website, it was as if God had directed me here. A true gift!! You are a true gift to all of us. I am so happy that Kathy reached out to me through this as well. She has a very keen instinct. She sensed that I am going through something in my life that is very hard. There again, God works in “His divine way”! Thank you for being the sweet friend you are to me and to all who read your posts. And, to Kathy too.

        1. You are so kind. You are a gift to those of us here. I so appreciate all of my regular readers and commenters. You bless me every single day. Hugs!

  4. Ana Cordova says:

    What powerful and strong message you have given us about sining. As much as I try not to sin I keep falling. Please Lord forgive me of my sins and I beg you to continue to helping to be free of sining if it is possible. I know without you I can not do it. So please help me in my daily lives that I continue to seek you, love, trust, praise you and don’t forsake me. Thank you Deb for all your blessings you give us so we can continue to walk in faith.

    1. Hi, Ana. Thank you for adding your prayers to our conversations. You are blessing and encouraging us with your faith and testimony. God bless you!

  5. Jessie Bowen says:

    Thank you so much Deb for this word! We are all struggling with sin and remembering our loving God who forgives us through repentance is so vital! This word came to me at the perfect time. Thank you for the blessing!

    1. I’m so glad, Jessie! Thank you for joining us and for adding your kind words to the conversation. God bless you!

  6. JoyceThomas says:

    How many times have I been down on my knees praying psalm 51 …?
    Far too many to count at this age. Thank you for another great post.

    1. Thank you for your kind encouragement, Joyce. God bless you!