Romans 2:4 – “…the goodness of God leads you to repentance”.
For so long, Satan has trapped people into a sin consciousness, always thinking about what’s “wrong”, a performance based system of measuring our worth, accusing us of every little thing. That’s a lousy way to live, but so clever on his part. Why? He knows if he can overload our thoughts with lots of “wrong” and condemnation, it will be harder for us to recognize and accept when God wants to bring sin to our attention.
When God shows us the error of our ways, it’s totally the opposite of the way Satan does. Satan pounds us, God is good, He speaks to us and guides us and leads us into repentance. It’s a still, small voice, like an “error message” that pops up on your computer or phone or TV. Error messages are used when invention is required, or to indicate that a desired operation has failed, or to relay important warnings.
Whatever you do, don’t ignore or resist that “error message”! It’s a good thing! Hebrews 12:6 says that the Lord corrects and disciplines everyone whom He loves, as a loving Father with his child. Allow yourself to be corrected, quickly. I know it’s not easy, “for the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful” (verse 11), but “afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it”.
Better yet, when temptation to sin comes, don’t give in. Genesis 4:7 says, “Sin is crouching at your door, its desire is for you, but you must master it”. How? 1 Cor. 10:13 says, “God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” Side note: temptation to sin is not sin. It’s when we give in to temptation that we actually sin. Jesus was tempted in all ways but without sin.
Get rid of that sin consciousness, and quickly respond to the error messages that GOD sends, because He loves you and wants the best for you. Make this your prayer, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24). Be totally vulnerable with God, really get to know Him, enjoy your relationship with Him, you can trust Him with your heart.