Chapter 3: Repentance From The Heart

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Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue shall sing aloud of Your

righteousness.” “O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your

praise. For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering.”

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart; these, O God, You will not despise.” Psalm 51: 14-17

Apostle Paul responded to God’s call and he fully understood David’s prayer in Psalm 51. It was a message from Paul’s own heart to God. It is a message from my very own heart to God. Like David, Paul was a man after God’s own heart. So am I. Dear Christian brother, sister or other child of

God — Do you have a heart for doing all of God’s will?

“I have found David … [Paul & Edward] a man [men] after My own heart, who will do all My will.” Acts 13:22 [you?]

“The Lord is always aware of what people do; there is no way to hide from Him.” Sirach 17:15 GNB

The American Heritage Dictionary 1 has the following definition of the word repent:

1. To feel remorse, contrition, or self-reproach. 2. To feel such regret for past conduct as to change one’s mind regarding it: He repented of his … 3. To make a change for the better as a result of remorse or regret.

All of these definitions are good. All of them apply to the Apostle Paul. All of them apply to me. How about you? In addition, can you relate to Job when he replied to God with these words of repentance?

“Therefore I abhor myself, and repent

in dust and ashes!” Job 42:6