I am studying Acts 23 – 26 for the past few days, the messages that kept on banging into my mind is the word ‘Repentance’ or ‘Repent’. In Acts 26 Paul recounts his conversion and testifies of Jesus Christ before King Agrippa.
Paul taught both Jews and Gentiles: If we repent and turn to God, we can overcome Satan’s power in our lives, receive forgiveness for our sins, and qualify for the celestial kingdom.
Elder Neil L. Andersen taught:
“When we sin, we turn away from God. When we repent, we turn back toward God.
The invitation to repent is rarely a voice of chastisement but rather a loving appeal to turn around and to “re-turn” toward God. it is the beckoning of a loving Father and His Only Begotten Son to be more than we are, to reach up to a higher way of life, to change, and to feel the happiness of keeping the commandments.
…What a marvellous privilege for each of us to turn away from our sins and to come unto Christ. Divine forgiveness is one of the sweetest fruits of the gospel, removing guilt and pain from our hearts and replacing them with joy and peace of conscience. Jesus declares, “Will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?”
Some listening today may need “a mighty change [of] heart” to confront serious sins. The help of a priesthood leader might be necessary. For most, repenting is quiet and quite private, daily seeking the Lord’s help to make needed changes.
For most, repentance is more a journey than a one-time event. It is not easy. To change is difficult. It requires running into the wind, swimming upstream. Jesus said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.” Repentance is turning away from some things, such as dishonesty, pride, anger, and impure thoughts, and turning toward other things, such as kindness, unselfishness, patience, and spiritually. It is “re-turning” toward God.
How do we decide where our repentance should be focused? When a loved one or friend suggests things we need to change, the natural man in us sometimes pops up his head and responds, “Oh, you think I should change? Well, let me tell you about some of your problems.” A better approach is to humbly petition the Lord: “Father, what would Thou have me do?” The answers come. We feel the changes we need to make. The Lord tells us in our mind and in our heart.
We then are allowed to choose: will we repent, or will we pull the shades down over our open window into heaven?
Alma warned, “Do not endeavour to excuse yourself in the least point.” When we pull the shades down”, we stop believing that spiritual voice inviting us to change. We pray but we listen less. Our prayers lack that faith that leads to repentance.
Realizing where we need to change, we sorrow for the sadness we have caused. This leads to sincere and heartfelt confession to the Lord and, when needed, to others. When possible, we restore what we have wrongly harmed or taken.
Repentance becomes part of our daily lives. Our weekly taking of the sacrament is so important—to come meekly, humbly before the Lord, acknowledging our dependence upon Him, asking Him to forgive and to renew us, and promising to always remember Him.
Sometimes in our repentance, in our daily efforts to become more Christ like, we find ourselves repeatedly struggling with the same difficulties. As if we were climbing a tree-covered mountain, at times we don’t see our progress until we get closer to the top and look back from the high ridges. Don’t be discouraged. If you are striving and working to repent, you are in the process of repenting.
As we improve, we see life more clearly and feel the Holy Ghost working more strongly within us.
Sometimes we wonder why we remember our sins long after we have forsaken them. Why does the sadness for our mistakes at times continue following our repentance?
The scriptures do not say that we will forget our forsaken sins in mortality. Rather, they declare that the Lord will forget.
The forsaking of sins implies never returning. Forsaking requires time. To help us, the Lord at times allows the residue of our mistakes to rest in our memory. It is a vital part of our mortal learning.
As we honestly confess our sins, restore what we can to the offended, and forsake our sins by keeping the commandments, we are in the process of receiving forgiveness. With time, we will feel the anguish of our sorrow subside, taking “away the guilt from our hearts” and bringing “peace of conscience.”
For those who are truly repentant but seem unable to feel relief: continue keeping the commandments. I promised you, relief will come in the timetable of the Lord. Healing also requires time.
The scriptures warn us, “Do not procrastinate the day of your repentance.” But, in this life, it is never too late to repent.”
… Repentance not only changes us, but it also blesses our families and those we love. With our righteous repentance, in the timetable of the Lord, the lengthened-out arms of the Savior will not only encircle us but will also extend into the lives of our children and posterity. Repentance always means that there is greater happiness ahead.”
Repent… That I May Heal You
Elder Neil L. Andersen
October 2009 General Conference
When I read this, a sister’s name came into my mind. I feel as I was prompted to talk to her on this topic. The word ‘Repentance’ not only appear in my mind these few days but for the past 2 weeks.
I think that the Lord would wants me to tell her that. She was such a cheerful and kind hearted lady when I got to know her. It was really a shock to me that, it was a beautiful disguise that she made to everyone.
She has the bad habits that likes to create or make up stories about others and to cover up something she has done wrong. It was really heartache when I found out this. It make me feel as I am a stupid and easily cheated person, I trust her and believe in everything she told me before this.
Despite of her bad habits or weaknesses to hurt others intentionally or unintentionally, I know that there are still goodness in her. I know this because I can feel her sincerity during when she is doing good.
It seems like as it is quite difficult for her to face the choices that she made. I really hope that the Lord able to guide her along back to the right path. I know probably this is the the plan that Heavenly Father would wants her to go through, because she can become a better person after this.
