Your Kingdom Come: God’s Heart for DiversitySample

Day 6 - Healing springs from Honesty

God reveals to heal. He wants to heal your relationships but He also wants to bring healing to your own heart. As we near the end of this devotional, today is an opportunity to reflect on your own experiences and consider the way God has spoken to you. He reveals so that we can repent. In the New Testament, the word “metanoia” is often translated as “repentance” but this kind of repentance is not about regret or guilt or shame; the Greek word means “change of mind” and implies deciding to turn around to face a new direction. 

If you have hurt people or have been hurt by them, (especially those in the church) you need to take time to engage with what has happened and allow the Spirit to bring healing and restoration. For some, repentance looks like laying aside ideologies, attitudes and apathy that is not aligned with God’s heart or by seeking forgiveness for the words we spoke or actions that caused division and hurt. Whereas for others, repentance looks like turning to God with the emotions, pain and offence we have experienced in order to let go of unforgiveness.

 “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:6-9)

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16)

In both these passages God invites you to confess and this requires honesty. Take some time today to have an honest conversation with God; sharing your heart with humility, being real with your thoughts and emotions and trust that He will bring forgiveness and healing. If you chose to turn to God today remember that “the Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made” (Psalms 145:8-9). This is us church – those willing to turn to God and change our ways to walk according to His will.

Reflection Points

• What ideas, attitudes and behaviours in your life do not line up with God's heart for diversity? Confess them individually if you recognise them
• Consider this - what does repentance look like for you today?
• How can you walk in the freedom and healing that repentance brings?
• Are they any actions that you need to take to bring reconciliation?