Being transformed

When I was younger, I told my grandmother I was sorry for something stupid I had done. I had been caught. She looked at me and ask me something I will never forget: "Are you repenting or are you just sorry?" I did not understand the question. She then looked at me and clarified: "People who repent want to change, people who say - 'sorry,' are just sorry they got caught; they will repeat the behavior". That short conversation stuck with me forever.
Jesus said, "I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent." Luke 5:32 People who know they need to change — they know their only hope is Jesus Christ. Repentance becomes total admission of guilt, total surrender to Him, resulting in total freedom.
I still do and say stupid foolish things — it is so easy to just say 'sorry' and try to excuse or defend my way out it-but when I truly admit my wrong and ask for forgiveness, the Holy Spirit can change me. I live in His grace, mercy and freedom. I am then more able to love and forgive others who say and do stupid things that hurt me. And here is clarity how God loves me in spite of myself.
2 Corinthians 3:16 But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

Created almost 2 years ago