Godly sorrow looks to the future with hope, motivating us to act. Worldly sorrow looks to the past and wallows in despair. We should welcome experiences which motivate us to do better, and we should avoid letting negative experiences drag us down.
…And Such Were Some of You
God invites sinners to turn to Him, so that He can help them overcome their sins. We don't have to repent before we can exercise faith in Him. We exercise faith in Him so that He can help us to repent!
Pricked in Their Heart
The people who heard Peter preach on the day of Pentacost were "pricked in their heart." They were motivated to do better. The Holy Ghost speaks to us many ways, but sometimes He teaches us how we can improve. We can respond with optimism and faith.
“Is It I?”
There is a human tendency to see faults in others and to ignore or rationalize away our own faults. To overcome this tendency, we need to ask introspective questions like: Is it I? What lack I yet? What is keeping me from progressing?
What Is the “Abomination of Desolation?”
Jesus instructed His disciples to stand in holy places when they see "the abomination of desolation." What does that mean? In this post, I trace that concept from its origins in the Old Testament through modern revelation to better understand its meaning
“Neither Do I Condemn Thee”
Jesus didn't come to condemn us. He came to save us. He expressed confidence in the woman who had committed adultery, saying, "Go and sin no more." He believed that she could change, and in response, she "glorified God...and believed on his name."
Swept
Jesus said that when an unclean spirit is cast out of a man, it sometimes returns and is welcomed back. What are some ways to fill our lives with goodness so that sins we repent of don't come back?
The Ax Is Laid at the Root of the Tree
Maturity requires awareness and honesty. John the Baptist and Alma both used a metaphor of an ax resting beside a tree to help their listeners overcome complacency and choose to repent.
Chaff
A winnowing fan is a kind of basket used to throw chaff and grain into the air. The chaff blows away, and the heavier grain remains. Chaff can represent our sins. If we are willing to let them go, they will blow away as the Savior winnows us.
Repentance and Resolutions
January is a good time to repent. Setting resolutions can be part of a pattern of change which can lead to incremental improvement throughout the year. Here are some of my resolutions for 2023.