Tag: #heart

Repentance and Rest: Key Elements to Peace

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

We all fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23, ESV). Don’t stop there…the rest of the verse says, “and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

Last week, I discussed The Magnitude of Grace and God’s love for us. This week, I want to continue focusing on grace and emphasize the importance of daily repentance, which brings peace. As we seek holiness, we should ask for forgiveness of our sins to create more space in our hearts for the Holy Spirit to dwell.

When David sinned against Bathsheba and Uriah (2 Sam 11:1-17), it was hurtful not only to them but to God. When he humbled himself in repentance and asked God to “Create in me a clean heart, O God, renew a right spirit within me” (Ps. 51:10, ESV, Emphasis added), he was being completely honest with God. He recognized the wrong he had done and humbled himself before God, asking for mercy (Biblica Study Bible). This can be our prayer also.

The heart is what God sees and cares about. Some sins are apparent, like David’s; others may not be. If we’re unsure of our offenses, we can ask God to reveal them to us and pray for His help to change and bring glory to Jesus Christ in everything we do.

I mentioned that God desires for us to be with Him and be still; to acknowledge Him in all things (Prov. 3:6). Making this a daily discipline leads to peace and prepares us for success when challenges arise.

“In returning (Or repentance) and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and trust shall be your strength” (Is. 30:15, Emphasis added).

The ESV Study Bible emphasizes that the genuine way to achieve victory and peace is through repentance and rest. Additionally, by opening more space in our hearts via repentance, we invite more of the Spirit, which results in liberation from condemnation, guilt, shame, sin, death, the old covenant, and spiritual blindness to the gospel. This freedom also provides access to God’s loving presence (2 Cor. 3:17).

The promises of the old covenant pointed to Jesus, while the new covenant changes people’s hearts and makes them right with God forever. Some struggle to understand this concept until the Spirit of God removes the veil and helps those who turn to God understand it (Biblica Study Bible). Only through Christ is the veil taken away (2 Cor. 3:14).

The freedom that comes with the Spirit is completely real, and we are meant to live in that freedom for ultimate peace instead of the guilt and shame inflicted on us by the enemy’s lies. After we put the flesh to death, we are alive in Christ and are not to continue in sin but rather allow the Holy Spirit to transform us to the likeness of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:1-4).

This is what Jesus meant when He told the Pharisees to clean the inside of the cup first; they were worrying over cleaning the outside (or their appearance) when the inside was still filthy. He was referring to the obvious internal condition of their hearts (Matt. 23:26). By accepting Christ, one becomes all that God requires (2 Cor. 5:21). We are to put on Christian virtues, otherwise known as the breastplate of righteousness, as a guard against the things of this world that corrupt our hearts (Eph. 6:14).

This imagery suggests that this righteousness isn’t just a legal declaration, but an active, daily practice that protects the heart and mind from corruption and the spiritual attacks of the world. It serves as a reminder that a renewed identity in Christ should lead to a life of moral and ethical integrity, and that this lived-out righteousness is a defense against evil.

God supplies all the spiritual weapons we need, along with the power of the Holy Spirit inside us, to fight off the attacks and temptations from Satan. We are never alone in the fight and have everything needed for victory. God always provides a way of escape (1 Cor. 10:13). We can also fight for one another.

This is why community with like-minded people is so important. “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another” (Prob. 27:17, emphasis added). If we are struggling with sin in our lives, we can ask a trusted friend to pray with us and for us and hold us accountable.

Shift your perspective and make it a daily habit to rest in the shadow of the Almighty, humbly seeking forgiveness and mercy, and strive to become more like Jesus every day, pursuing holiness. Notice the peace that grows in your heart as you create more space for the Holy Spirit to work.

God wants the best for you. God sees you and hears you.

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty (Ps. 91:1, Emphasis added).

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Cor. 3:17, Emphasis added).

“Do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct” (1 Peter 1:16, Emphasis added). “You shall be holy, for I am holy (Lev. 11:44, Emphasis added).

H.E.A.R.T.

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to be part of a leadership group at my church, where we spent a year learning more about God, ourselves, and the church. One of the assignments was to read the book The Heart of Leadership: Becoming a Leader People Want to Follow by Mark Miller. His acronym for the word heart stuck with me, and until recently, it was posted on the side of my refrigerator for me to see every morning. I still pray for God to help me with these traits to be a better leader.

It goes like this: Hunger for Wisdom, Expect the Best, Accept Responsibility, Respond with Courage, and Think of Others First.

Miller speaks of these as character traits – to be regarded higher than any skills we may have or acquire. It is an issue of the heart, and the only remedy is accepting Christ so the Holy Spirit can shape our character.

Paul writes that suffering produces endurance, which builds character that leads to hope through Christ (Rom. 5:3-5). Our character is the fruit of the spirit everyone should want to have – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). One of my favorite verses that follows this that I pray every morning is that God would help me “Keep in step with the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25, Emphasis added) so that I can please Him and align with His will.

The book is described as a road map for anyone wanting to make a difference and be a leader others want to follow. There are many verses in the Bible about wisdom, but one that stands out for me is when Solomon could have asked for anything, and he chose to ask God for wisdom so he could lead his people well. God gave him wisdom and understanding beyond measure (I Kings 4:29, English Standard Version). He hungered for wisdom – not for himself – but to glorify God in leading the people. He later had much of his kingdom removed by God because of his foolish decisions. Still, he is the one others are measured by when it comes to his wisdom. Jesus surpassed his wisdom and is more significant than Solomon (Matt. 12:42).

James writes that if anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask God (James 1:5). Wisdom is described as better than jewels, and nothing else compares (Prov. 8:11). In Eccl. 10:10, the author writes that wisdom helps one succeed.

To expect the best is to believe and trust in God, who is the best and wants the best for us.

Accepting responsibility is not always about admitting we are wrong and owning up to our mistakes, although it can be that. Still, there is far more here to be considered. It is also about stepping up to the role God has proposed for our lives.

This will require us to respond with courage. Many times, I have tightened my grip and reminded myself of God’s promise in the book of Isaiah – “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Is. 41:10, Emphasis added) when I needed the courage to respond to God’s prompting.

Last but certainly not least, we must understand it is not about us but serving and loving others – thinking of others first is just that, putting ourselves in their shoes and trying to treat them as we would want to be treated (Matt. 7:12); To love God and others (Matt. 22:37-39). Jesus says we are not to exalt ourselves but become servants to others as He modeled for us (Mark 10:43-45). Jesus was the ultimate servant leader that we can strive to be like. Servant leadership empowers others for success – instead of pushing others down as we climb the ladder to the top.

It requires a changed heart that reflects the character traits of Jesus as we put on the new self, including kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, and are being renewed every day to the image of our Creator (Col. 3:8-17).

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col. 3:17, Emphasis added).

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Ps. 73:26. Emphasis added).

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew the right spirit within me” (Ps. 51:10, Emphasis added).