Read: Matthew 6:9-13
What is something in your life you need to turn from?
One of the best ways to Get Ready for this year is to repent from the past. Repentance is a word we try to ignore, but in the next line, Jesus prayed, "Forgive us our debt” (Matthew 6:12a).
To repent means to turn. Turning from the way you shouldn't have gone and getting back on the right path. This invitation is all throughout Scripture, and it may sound scary at first, but remember, Jesus already paid the price for all our sins. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Jesus went to the cross to pay the price for our sins, so we don’t have to be afraid to talk to God about our shortcomings. Instead, as the writer of Hebrews says, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
What do you need to confess? Where have you been falling short? Spend today's prayer time talking to God about that area of your life. Confess it, turn from it, and take some tangible steps to make sure you don't go back to it.
Prayer: Father, thank you for being such a patient God. I know I fall short all the time, but I thank you that you aren’t done with me yet. Today, I want to repent. I want to confess all the places in my life where I’ve strayed from the path you have for me. I don’t want those things in my life anymore, so I thank you that you are giving me a fresh start today. Let’s move forward together in Jesus’ name, amen.