In our Sunday Night Bible Study “Fresh Encounter” by Henry Blackaby the concept that “repentance is joyous” really stuck with me. How can something like repentance be joyous? It seems like an oxymoron. After all repentance is often preceded by dread, fear, sadness and guilt. However, when repentance is put into action and completed there is peace and renewal with God that brings joy!

“Repentance is to be embraced as the most positive response believers can have to God’s work.”

Henry Blackaby

The joy of repentance can set the prodigal son free from:

The departure from a right heart

The frivolous spending

The dissatisfaction

The self-enslavement

The continued dissatisfaction

The misery

The spiritual depravity

The lack of direction

The unsettled frenzy of life

God can use all these things and more to lead us to a decision of repentance, as He did with the prodigal son.

Now see what the joy of repentance looks like

Sin weighs our soul down, but repentance lifts our souls up!

Here are two scripture references that will help us experience the joy of repentance:

Lay aside every weight that easily ensnares us.

Remember from where you have fallen!

To fall from a clear conscience and good relationship with God is a devastating fall.

God encourages us to identify where we fell away from.

Confession brings repentance and repentance restores full joy in the Lord!

Like the Prodigal Son’s Father, our Heavenly Father rejoices when He sees our lives experience the Joy of Repentance!

The joy of repentance can set the prodigal son free from:

V The departure from a right heart

V The frivolous spending

V The dissatisfaction

V The self-enslavement

V The continued dissatisfaction

V The misery

V The spiritual depravity

V The lack of direction

V The unsettled frenzy of life