Doctrine and covenants
Repentance brings inner peace.
What is repentance?
"Repentance is one of the first principles of the gospel and is essential to our temporal and eternal happiness. It is much more than just acknowledging wrongdoings. It is a change of mind and heart that gives us a fresh view about God, about ourselves, and about the world. It includes turning away from sin and turning to God for forgiveness. It is motivated by love for God and the sincere desire to obey His commandments."
Why is it important that we repent? Sin draws us away from God. It detaches us from the spirit. Stirring up our insides to the point of no rest. The feelings of guilt begin to consume our thoughts and at times we become so swallowed in the guilt we harden our hearts and turn away from God. In the moment that seems like the easiest way out.
"Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you."
John 15
The holy Ghost is the perfect gentle men. He knows when he is welcome to stay and he knows when it is time to leave. He is promised to be with us if we keep Gods commandments. As we break those commandments the Holy Ghost no longer can dwell with us. Dimming our sensitivity to right and wrong.
"21 And he doth not dwell in unholy temples; neither can filthiness or anything which is unclean be received into the kingdom of God; therefore I say unto you the time shall come, yea, and it shall be at the last day, that he who is filthy shall remain in his filthiness."
Alma 7
It is sooo important that we return to God that we repent and open our hearts to feeling him around us.
"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. 14 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. Being disciples of Christ, we rejoice in the blessing of repenting and the joy of being forgiven. They become part of us, shaping the way we think and feel."
-Neil L. Andersen
"13 O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?
14 Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me."3 Nephi 9
Repentance= healing. The Savior can't heal us if we don't humble ourselves before him and ask for his forgiveness.
Once we repent forgiveness and healing step in.
"As we repent, our view of ourselves and the world changes. As we change, we recognize that we are children of God and that we need not continue making the same mistakes over and over. If we sincerely repent, we turn away from our sins and do them no more. We resist any desire to commit sin. Our desire to follow God grows stronger and deeper.
Sincere repentance brings several results. We feel God’s forgiveness and His peace in our lives. Our guilt and sorrow are swept away. We feel the influence of the Spirit in greater abundance. "
We are commanded to repent daily. No matter how large, or minor the sin may seem. Sin pulls us away from God and our Savior Jesus Christ. As we repent daily the burden of guilt and shame are made light. I know that as I repent each day I feel my love for the Savior deepen, my desire to follow him grows as I feel an increase of closeness to him. My heart becomes warm and I know that I can follow him.
When the day comes that I stand before my Savior and my God to be judged, I hope to feel comfortable there. To know that I did my best each and every day. I know that I am human and I mess up. A lot. But as I repent my feelings of anxiety and stress, frustration and being rushed turn to peace, calm, love, and compassion.
" 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm."Mark 4
If he can calm the troubled seas, he can calm your troubled heart. Peace be still and return to God. Repentance isn't a sign of weakness, nor is it scary. It is our way of showing God our desires, it is our way of showing him we are willing to do what it takes to make it home to him after this life.
My heart has never been so at peace as it has in this last year. I have found my Savior. My desire to repent has grown and I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO HAPPY. I know that my sins are forgiven each and every time I pray. I know that each day as I repent I become more aware of the little things I need to do better and I feel a greater sense of worth, I feel my divine purpose in this life. I know repentance is real. I know that through the atonement of Jesus Christ we can be healed of all manner of afflictions.
"11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me."Alma
Repent and let the savior heal you. Let the enabling power of the atonement make you stronger, becoming better each and every day.
I love my Savior. I know that Jesus is the Christ. I know that anything is possible with. And I know that he lives. He is my source of inner peace. He is my light. He is the center of my world. I would do anything for him. He died so that we might live. He gave his life willingly. For all. If they would repent.
16 For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." John 14
31 Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you.
32 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.
No comments:
Post a Comment