J Heinrich Arnold-Freedom from sinful thoughts.pdf

FREEDOM FROM SINFUL THOUGHTS - REPENTANCE & REBIRTHWhich of us takes our struggles with sin so seriouslythat we fight with loud cries and tears? Jesus did. Noone has ever had to fight like him – no one. The devilwanted no heart more than his. And because he foughtmuch harder than any of us will ever have to, he understandsour struggles. We can be sure of that. Yet we will alwayshave to fight, and that is why he says that those whowant to follow him must take up their cross as he tookup his.Repentance does not mean self-torment. It may turnour lives upside down – in fact, it must – and at timeswe will feel as if the entire foundation has been sweptaway from under our lives. But even then we must notsee everything as hopeless or black. God’s judgment isGod’s goodness, and it cannot be separated from hismercy and compassion. Our goal must be to removeeverything that is opposed to God from our hearts, sohe can cleanse us and bring us new life – that is, so hecan fill us with Christ.It is a wonderful gift when a person truly repents. Aheart of stone becomes a heart of flesh, and everyemotion, thought, and feeling changes. One’s entireoutlook changes, because God comes so close to thesoul. Sadly, many Christians resist repentance andrebirth. Others, even if they may not resist it, neverexperience its blessings because they do not seek it.55