A Penitent Mind

Sunday March 7, 2021

Dr. Richard L. Hamm


Sacred Scripture teaches us to repent of our sins and ask God to forgive us and we are to forgive those who have sinned against us. Jesus immortalized this command in the Lord’s Prayer––“And forgive us our debts/sin, as we forgive our debtors/those who have sinned against us” (Matt 6:12). There are times in everyone’s life that they should feel convicted and be remorseful for what they did or did not do and how they did or did not act. How you act conveys what you really believe. Your words are just noise. Getting someone to admit that they are wrong in their attitude or conduct is very difficult to accomplish in this peculiar time in which we live. The first step in true penitence begins with confessing your sin and failure to Jesus Christ the Lord. By asking God to forgive you because you have failed Him and asking the forgiveness of those you have hurt or offended, is essential in the process of growing and maturing in your relationship with Jesus Christ. Penitence will help you to have the vibrant spiritual health which is indispensable for every follower of Christ. To be spiritually healthy you must:  “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people” (Rom 12:8). You are called by God to be joyous, to fulfill your mission, and to live life with excellence through the power of the Holy Spirit.