I would like to ask this question; what does it mean to repent? How does one repent? Do we have a need to repent? Now, to repent or repentance means to turn from sin and resolve to reform one's life-Webster's dictionary. I would like to turn you attention to a passage of scripture that is found in Ezekiel 18:30-32, "Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live! (NIV). This is a call from God, to Israel, to repent, cast off, to turn back to the path of righteousness they once had lived in. What had Israel done to invoke such a statement from The Lord? Let's turn back a few verses, to verse 25. Israel had purposed in their hearts that God's way were unjust. What would possess the heart of a nation, or the heart of a man, to resolve in his heart that the God's ways are unjust? Is it not a lifestyle of sinning? Is it not a lifestyle of coming to the point of surrender before a holy and righteous God and then callously turning away? Repent! To turn away from sin and resolve in one's heart to reform one's life! How do we turn away from a lifestyle of sinning? The first step is to realize that we are a lost people, void from a relationship with the Father. To pin-point this closer to home; I am lost. We need to make this point personal! It has to be at a place of utter and total dependence upon God and Him alone for the salvation from this sinful lifestyle. In conjunction with the acknowledgement of this obdurate relationship, we must be sorry for the lifestyle of sin. 2 Corinthians 7:10, For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death. (NASB) This Godly sorrow must be the motivation behind the repentant lifestyle that is to replace the former lifestyle of sin. For is this not the goal of everyone who confesses to be a christian? To be in right standing with God! Revelation 3:19-20, All whom I hold dear, I reprove and chastise; therefore be in earnest and repent. I am now standing at the door and am knocking. If any one listens to My voice and opens the door, I will go in to be with him and will feast with him, and he shall feast with Me. (WNT) Only through a relationship with the Son of God, Jesus Christ, can we live a lifestyle of repentance! Can you hear Ezekiel's call, "...Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel?" O christian, O sinner, Fall into the arms of a loving and righteous God! Let us repent of all of our sins and walk out our days on this earth with fear and trembling before the Lord! O Jesus, I open the door of my heart to you. I've heard your knocking and I yield to Your call upon my soul. I repent, I turn away from my sinful lifestyle and I make the conscious decision to follow You. I want a new heart and a new spirit. Keep me close to you, under your wing, safe and secure. strengthen me to walk in righteousness and in the truth of Your word. Amen.