09.29.21 | Turning Away from What Defiles Us
In today’s BREAD reading from Mark 7, Jesus talks about what defiles a person. He speaks with the Pharisees, and to the crowds, and then, with a little more clarity, to his disciples:
What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.
During today’s Fasting & Prayer Focus, we will ask the Holy Spirit to highlight the sins in our life that we need to repent of. As we do so, remember that it is “God’s kindness that leads us to repentance” (Romans 2:4).
Begin your time in prayer with appreciation for Jesus, giving thanks for his kindness. Then, open yourself to the Holy Spirit’s prompting and ask that your sins be revealed to you.
The word repent means “to turn around” or “turn away from.” Confess what the Holy Spirit brings to mind, and declare that you desire to turn away from these things.
Use Jesus’ words to help you see what the Holy Spirit is highlighting within you. Is there any “sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance, or folly” in you? Spend time asking the Holy Spirit and confessing anything specific that is brought to mind.
Finally, ask Jesus for his forgiveness, and then allow yourself to actually receive that forgiveness.
As always, we encourage you to put into practice what you are learning with a brother or sister. We encourage you to confess the sins the Holy Spirit has highlighted with a fellow Jesus-follower that you are close to, and let them speak words of forgiveness over you.