Repentance and Holiness
Repentance is turning away from old thoughts and actions, and agree with the mind of Christ. Not that we need to take a bath for we have been saved but from time to time it is good to wash ones feet.
I Corinthians 10:3-4 “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” Our weapons are repentance, prayer, and other spiritual acts. Let’s demolish some strongholds in our minds and hearts today.
Pride
The historical account of King Nebuchadnezzar demonstrates the destructive nature of pride. In Daniel 4:30-32 it says, “The king reflected and said, ‘Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?’ “While the word was in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: sovereignty has been removed from you, and you will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling place will be with the beasts of the field. You will be given grass to eat like cattle, and seven periods of time will pass over you until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.’”
Anytime we take credit for our accomplishments or position or power; it is stealing God’s glory. This may include any selfish ambition or envy (Gal 5:19-20). Let us take a minute in silence and reflect on any areas of pride God brings to our minds. Then pray and tell God you repent of any past acts and you want to change your behavior and mindset going forward.
Here is prayer you can use. If there is something you don’t agree with then don’t say it.
God, I come before You and ask You forgive me for being proud and taking credit for what You have given me in this life. I repent from any mindset of thinking that I need to make my own way, my own kingdom, or my own power. God see all the works I have done for You; take all the glory, honor, and praise for them. Let my life be pleasing to You and let me walk humbly before You. Thank You, God for being my Provider of everything I have accomplished, everything I need, everything I own, and everything I am.
Now let’s take a minute and listen to God and what He has to say over you… What did you feel? The love, grace, or mercy of God?
Witchcraft and Idolatry
Saul went and consulted a witch and lost his life and heirs on his throne. I Samuel 28:7 says, “Saul then said to his attendants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her.” I Chronicles 10:13-14 goes on with the consequences: “So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against the LORD, because of the word of the LORD which he did not keep; and also because he asked counsel of a medium, making inquiry of it, and did not inquire of the LORD. Therefore He killed him and turned the kingdom to David the son of Jesse”
Witchcraft is looking for spiritual encounters, information, or power that is not from God alone. Here, we will also address any idolatry, which is worshiping anything that is not God. Some of the ways witchcraft appears in our society is consulting psychics, taro card readings, fortune tellers or even fortune telling booths, ouiji boards, contacting demons on purpose or for power, voodoo dolls, curses (like Fremasonry), spells, energy healing, transcendental meditation, and anything like this.
Let us take a minute in silence and reflect on any areas of witchcraft God brings to our minds… here is a prayer you can use if you agree with it.
Lord Jesus, we confess that we have not always looked to You alone but have taken part in witchcraft of various forms (be as specific as possible). We ask Your forgiveness for anytime we have taken part in seeking power, information, healing, or any other things from evil. Bless us to walk in tighter unity with You and know You deeply, that every part of our being may rest in You alone.
Now let’s take a minute and listen to God and what He has to say over you… Did anyone feel the love, grace, or mercy of God?
Fear
Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Again in II Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
Lord Jesus, show us the deep places in us that do not know Your love, where fear still resides…Once He reveals it to you, then please pray to Him whatever words you might have or you can use this prayer:
Lord Jesus, we submit our lives to You and surrender any patterns of fear, insecurity, anxiety, or paranoia that we have been living in. We ask Your forgiveness for not fully trusting You with our lives and walking in fear. Help us break any patterns in our lives of the fear of man, situational anxiety, or other fear. Help us feel the Spirit of love, power, and a sound mind that You have given us.
Now let’s take a minute and listen to God and what He has to say over you… let’s specifically ask what is the root situation of some of our fears and will Jesus come and invade that memory and bring peace… Did you feel or sense Jesus or have thoughts from Him?
Mouth – Complaining, gossip, slander
James 1:26 “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.” Additionally, in Colossians 4:6 it says “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” Also, consider the Israelites in the desert as they complain against God and His provision. He allows snakes in the camp to come and kill people as a consequence. Let us take a minute in silence and reflect on any areas of speech God brings to our minds.
Lord Jesus, forgive me for slander, gossip, and complaining or any other unholy speech. Help me to remember to think about my words before I speak and to use gracious, holy, and salty speech at all times.
Addiction and Lusts
Galatians 5:19-21 “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Colossians 3:5-6 “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.” Let us take a minute in silence and reflect on any areas of lust God brings to our minds.
God we confess that we have done evil in Your sight. Forgive us for any addictive behaviors with roots in lust, such as greed, sexual immorality, jealousy, fits of rage, and drunkeness (be as specific as possible). Cleanse our hearts from these desires in the future and help us walk in purity before you with our mind stayed on Christ. We give you the highest praise as the God who forgives and redeems us from the ashes. The One who paid it all.
Now let’s take a minute and listen to God and what He has to say over you… Did you feel the love, grace, or mercy of God?
Forgiveness
Matthew 6:15 says “But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Forgiveness is no longer holding someone to account or judging them for what they did wrong to you or to anyone. Forgiveness is one of our most powerful weapons. This does not mean you need to reconcile with the person or end up being in a trusting relationship with them. But it does mean that they owe you nothing and are fully accountable only to Jesus.
Let us take a minute in silence and reflect on anyone God brings to our minds that we need to forgive. If you want, I will lead a prayer and you can repeat. (You may need to go through this prayer for many people in your life.)
Jesus I forgive ____________(add the names). I let them go and they are now only accountable to You, Jesus for their actions. Not only do I forgive, but I bless ______________ (add the names) with love and deep relationships.
We are going to do this another time but this time we will forgive ourselves.
Jesus I forgive ____________(add a name). I no longer hold myself to my own standards. I will let you convict me when I need it. And fully understand You are a gracious and loving Father with better intentions toward me, than I have for myself.
Now we will confess that we had been walking in unforgiveness.
Lord Jesus, please also forgive me for walking in unforgiveness for so long.
In the future, let’s decide in our hearts that we will walk in pre-forgiveness of certain difficult people in our lives. That whatever they are about to do, we have decided to let grace go before us. Let’s take a moment and reflect on anything God wants to say to our hearts about our relationships with people and soften our hearts toward them. Did anyone feel the grace of God?
Closing Prayer
I break every stronghold of pride and bind and send all evil away in the Name of Jesus. Let us fight to maintain all freedom and victory we have claimed tonight over our enemy. We ask that you now fill us with Your Holy Spirit. Help us to renew our minds every day and we thank you that we have access to having the mind of Christ.