We often consider our own fear or shame when we think about repentance, but God intends repentance as a gift to bring us back into relationship with Him. Though we will daily struggle with sin, and sometimes succumb to our corrupted desires, our Father offers forgiveness, love, and hope through repentance.

Often, when we recognize sinful desires, we believe we need to kill our desires. However, God intends for us to live richly in this world He created, and He blessed us with desires. When sin corrupts the desires He intended for good, we must practice beholding on Him and His Word as we fight the sin in our lives. Our hearts will reflect who and what we behold, and our desires will follow.

In this broken world, sin constantly tempts our hearts with fear, bitterness, anger, grief, and much more. But our Father offers hope as we behold Him. When we know God through heart knowledge instead of head knowledge, we’re able to encounter Him deeply as He transforms and renews our hearts.