Reigniting a Sensitivity to the Spirit

Posted on September 27, 2023 by Elizabeth Welte in Victory Call

This Victory Call is for those that have become lax in confessing sin.  I know there are at least a few of you out there that will be able to identify with what I am saying.

For those of you who keep short accounts with God, who are convicted often of your sin, and regularly survey your life to see where you have fallen short of God’s glory so you may confess and repent of your sin, you may find this Victory Call somewhat shocking to know there are others that rarely do any of those things.

There are those who are very aware of their sin against God and regularly confess those sins. Then there are others that rarely or at best, irregularly give any thought to their need to confess and repent of their sin. There is a lack of sensitivity to the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

The Bible says we can become less sensitive to the Holy Spirit by ignoring and disobeying His promptings. Have you fallen into this dullness?  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God… Ephesians 4:30; Do not quench the Spirit. 1Thessalonians 5:19; Quench – to suppress or stifle Divine influence[i]

Although we may be aware of our sin in general, perhaps we have become less aware of our sin in particular. Therefore we rarely confess or repent of our sin or we confess and confess and confess but never actually repent.  “Repentance is presented in Scripture as a radical change of heart that results in a radically different way of living. As the heart turns and moves in a different direction, the life does as well.”[ii]

If we have become dulled to our need for regular heart-felt, humble examination of our lives followed by confession and repentance of sin, let’s pray with the Psalmist each evening:

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

Test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me,

And lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139: 23-24

Then give thought to our day, our actions, words, attitudes, and thoughts. What did we do wrong and what did we fail to do that is right?  Confess not in a general sense – Lord, forgive me for my sins; but in a specific sense, confessing our sin by name to God — Lord, forgive me for gossiping about _________ today.

Recall that Jesus suffered and died for each one of our sins in particular.  Repent – turning from our sin towards God asking Him to guide our new steps. I think sometimes we rush past this first part without feeling the weight of our sin.  Yes we are forgiven, but have we forgotten the cost?

The empty cross looms large in front of us.  Jesus not only suffered and died, but He rose again forgiving our sins, in particular and giving us new life which enables and empowers us to live radically different, obedient lives.   …just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4

I believe daily, humble confession and repentance will fan the embers of awareness of our sin and reignite a sensitivity to the whispers of the Holy Spirit.

Father, break our hearts over what breaks Yours.

 

[i] https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G4570&t=ESV accessed 8.31.18

[ii] Paul David Tripp. Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands: People in Need of Change Helping People in Need of Change, 2002. Pg. 287

 

Written by Diane Hunt: Diane Hunt serves on the board of America’s Keswick and is the Executive Director & CEO of Changed Choices, a Christian non-profit in North Carolina. She is also a biblical counselor and women’s event speaker. For more information about having Diane speak at your next event please contact her at dhunt@americaskeswick.org.

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This Week’s Verse to Memorize:  “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, ²⁸ so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” Hebrews 9:27-28