When was the last time you read something and felt it land? Not on the person you were about to forward it to.
On you.
Over the last couple weeks, we wrote about 7 satanic trends Christians need to stop following, then we dropped a piece about 6 more that went viral on IG, and most recently the 7 social media virtues that should take their place.
We expected pushback, and we got plenty. (Santa and the medicine cabinet will do that.)
What we didn’t expect was the other kind of comment. The quiet ones.
Lisa wrote that she needed to check herself more than she thought, then added, “that’s not a bad thing that is growth.”
Sean wrote that “Everything in Moderation” is where most Christians are, and then admitted, “I was one of them.”
Theresa told us she was glad she had an open mind , “At first I wasn’t sure what I was reading, but I was curious and now I’m glad I did. It sure made me think and begin to think about my life and how I really live.”
Sareeta put it plainly: “let us take some time to repent and start to do what we should be doing with the help of the Holy Spirit.”
Read those again. That’s what an altar call sounds like.
If you read one of those lists and felt something tighten in your chest, you’re in good company.
That feeling has a name, and it isn’t condemnation. It’s conviction, and conviction is an invitation.
But this was never really about trends.
The same Holy Spirit who put His finger on a habit on your phone is just as faithful to speak about your marriage, your money, your body and your mouth.
“And when He comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.” — John 16:8
Conviction isn’t a mood. It’s the Holy Spirit doing exactly what Jesus said He would do.
And it can sound like…
The apology you owe your spouse and keep putting off
The spending you keep justifying
What you reach for at 9 pm when nobody is watching
The app you open before you’ve said a word to God
The conversation you know you need to have
You already know which one it is for you.
The question isn’t whether He’s speaking. It’s whether you’ll obey.
“Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” — Hebrews 3:15
Today. Not when it’s convenient.
Not once you’ve thought about it some more. Conviction you keep putting off doesn’t stay sharp.
Little by little, it turns into a hard heart.
“Or do you presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” — Romans 2:4
Read that slowly. It’s His kindness that leads you there.
Not His irritation. Not His disappointment.
His kindness.
Most of us learned to hear the word “repent” in the voice of a man with a sandwich board, standing on a corner, waiting for us to feel bad enough.
But the word the New Testament uses, metanoia, means a change of mind. The Hebrew prophets used shuv, the ordinary word for turning around and going back.
Repentance isn’t groveling. It’s a U-turn.
And two very different kinds of sorrow can show up at that turn. Paul names them both…
“For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” — 2 Corinthians 7:10
Worldly grief sounds like, “I can’t believe I did that again.” (It circles.
It replays. It keeps you staring at yourself.)
Godly grief sounds like, “Father, I see it, and I’m changing.” (It turns.
It moves. It looks up.)
One keeps you stuck in the mirror. The other gets you on the road.
Repentance is simply obedience to what the Holy Spirit has already shown you. And the road on the other side of that U-turn leads somewhere good.
“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” — Acts 3:19-20
Times of refreshing. That’s the other side of the U-turn.
Not a lecture. Life.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” — John 10:10
That’s the whole point of repentance. Not to feel bad about the road you were on, but to get on the one that leads to the life Jesus promised.
Every area you’ve been holding back from Him is an area where life is waiting.
So whatever the Holy Spirit has been putting His finger on, don’t save it for later.
Find a quiet spot and pray this out loud with us. A whisper counts.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” — Romans 12:2
Pray this with us: 🙏
Heavenly Father, You see what I do not always want to see. You know the habits I have explained away, the attitudes I have gotten comfortable with, and the places in my life where I have been going my own way and calling it Yours.
Thank You that You do not leave me there. Thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to convict me, and that every time He does, You are pointing me toward life.
Lord, I come to You today ready to obey. Not to make excuses. Not to manage it a little better. To turn around.
Help me repent. Help me see clearly what You have been showing me, and give me the courage to call it what You call it.
Holy Spirit, when You speak, make me quick to obey. Help me stop arguing with what You have already made clear. Help me stop waiting until it feels easier. Help me do the next right thing today, not someday.
Your Word tells me not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewal of my mind. I cannot change by trying harder on my own. So Holy Spirit, come and do in me what I cannot do. Finish what You started when You first put this on my heart.
Bring change to my marriage and my family. Where I owe an apology, help me make it. Where I have been distant, draw me close. Let the people I love see me turn toward You first.
Bring change to my finances. Where I have spent without asking You, or held tightly to what You gave me to steward, help me open my hands and trust You as my Provider.
Bring change to my health. This body is Your temple, bought with a price. Help me make the better choice at the table and at bedtime, so I have the strength to live the full life You planned for me.
Bring change to my phone and my screens. Show me what to put down, what to unfollow and what to turn off, and let Yours be the first voice I hear every morning.
Bring change to my mouth. Set a guard over my lips. Let my words build up instead of tear down.
Bring change to my spirit. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Lord, I repent of every time I heard Your voice and put it off, and every time I called delay “waiting on the Lord.”
I am not a slave to my old patterns. I am not a slave to my appetites. I am not a slave to my feelings. I am not a slave to the opinions of the crowd. I am not a slave to the way I have always done it. I am not a slave to sin.
Who I was yesterday does not get to decide who I am today.
I belong to Jesus.
Teach me to walk in the abundant life You came to give me.
Not a life of trying harder and falling back, but a life of turning toward You again and again. Repentance that changes my mind. Repentance that changes my choices. Repentance that changes my life.
Today, I trade my old way for Your way, and my excuses for Your abundant life.
I receive Your correction. I receive a new heart. I receive Your strength for the first hard choice and the hundredth one. I receive the times of refreshing You promised. I receive the courage to change. I receive the abundant life You came to give me.
Amen.
Turning away is half of repentance. Here is what to turn toward…
Upgrade and learn what God’s Word says about every area of life
and how to live it. That’s what Bible Health is all about.
Walk each 6-week live group study the day it opens.
Get the Blueprint and every weekly Swap.
Follow Jesus, not trends, in every area.
As always, our hope and prayer is that you experience the abundant life.
~ Dr. Z & Mama Z
P.S. Whatever the Holy Spirit put His finger on while you read this, take the first obedient step before the day is over. Then come back and pray this again tomorrow.