Revival depends on repentance, and repentance requires conviction and confession of sin. God’s people, whether individually or corporately, cannot be revived unless they abandon their attachment to sin. Once the Holy Spirit brings conviction and we wholeheartedly respond by renouncing our offensive ways, revival fire can come and new growth can flourish. Allowing the Holy Spirit to examine our hearts and minds and uncover any offenses steeped in pride and unbelief is a necessary daily discipline. We cannot be filled with the power and love of God if we are full of ourselves. Sin is a hinderance to growing in relationship with Jesus and with others. Confession and repentance is the way to restore and revive our hearts. 

 

Day 1      Isaiah 59:1-9 

Reflect: In this passage, what do you learn about God? About sin? Why is justice and righteousness, or right relationships, such important characteristics of God’s people? 

Apply:   How have you experienced sin as a block between you and God? In what is sin rooted? How does identifying this help you to repent and overcome sin’s hold?

Pray:     Father, what a comfort to know that the wall of separation between God and man has been broken down through faith in Christ. I want to walk in spirit and truth and quickly confess any sin and restore fellowship with You.

 

Day 2      Isaiah 6:1-7 

Reflect: What effect did this heavenly scene have on Isaiah? Why did God allow him to experience this? What is the result of the proper contemplation of God’s holiness? Why? 

Apply:   When have you felt humbly convicted by God? What resulted? How do you define holy? In what ways does experiencing God’s glory “ruin” a person? (Verse 5, NIV version)

Pray:      Thank you for bringing me to your throne of mercy. “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory.” Praise Your holy name!

 

Day 3      Acts 3:17–21    

Reflect: Why is it important that we understand Christ’s suffering? How does Peter connect temporal and eternal blessings to repentance? What does “times of refreshing” mean?     

Apply:   When you confessed and repented from sin in your life, in what ways did you experience God’s blessings? How are you practicing the discipline of confession and repentance? 

Pray:     Father, I confess that I missed the mark and have sinned against You. I confess my sin(s) of ___________________.  I humble my heart before You, and I ask that You forgive me of my sins and shortcomings. What a privilege to be loved by You.

 

Day 4      Hebrews 12:1-13  

Reflect: What kinds of hinderances and sinful ways stop people from fully following Jesus? How are God’s discipline and conviction similar? Different? To what does God’s discipline lead? 

Apply:   What is hindering you or slowing you down from following Jesus with all you’ve got?  How has God disciplined you? What resulted? How has or does your faith walk impact others (verse13)?

Pray:     God, help me to submit to Your Fatherly care, in both Your tenderness and Your discipline, to be transformed day by day to look more like Jesus.

 

Day 5      Psalm 51:1-19

Reflect: Why did David say that all of his sin was against God and God alone? What does verse 17 mean to you? How does this psalm speak to the blessing of repentance?

Apply:   Of all David asked God to do for him, what speaks to you most? Why? How quick are you to acknowledge sin? What parts of this psalm will you adopt in your time of confession?   

Pray:     Father, thank You for the love and sacrifice of Jesus that made it possible to quickly come and pray for pardon that I might be restored to You. 

 

Put It Into Practice!

Week 1:  Repentance involves both an inward change of the mind and an outward change of behavior. It is important that we develop a regular and rigorous discipline of self-examination and genuine repentance. A proper view of sin will bring us to this place.

Examine yourself against these necessary views and actions regarding sin that will lead you to a true lifestyle of repentance: 

∙ Sight of Sin – Sinful actions and thoughts must be seen for what they are. Ask someone if they see any sin in your life that you may not see.

∙ Sorrow for Sin – Are you truly sorry for sinning or sorry for getting caught?

∙ Confession of Sin – True confession is voluntary, not forced. It is sincere, not mechanical. It is specific, not general. When confession is born out of true sight and sorrow of sin, real life change can happen.

∙ Hatred of Sin – The sparks of repentance turn into flames when we begin to burn with anger for our sin. In repentance, our love for God develops a hatred of sin. We must clearly see that sin is a murderous thing.