The other day I was watching a beautiful sunset once again disappear over the horizon. It occurred to me that God could have created this earth to have no nights, just one continual day. Why did He create this world we live on to have a cycle of days and nights? I pondered on this and thought about how each evening the sun goes down and the day has an end, but we always know that the sun will rise again in the morning. Similarly, with each new day it is another opportunity to try to repent, change, and become our best selves. Despite the shadows and struggles of the previous day, the sun will always rise in the morning as brilliant as ever! Maybe this was why God created life this way, to help us remember that as we repent, there is always a second chance!
What is repentance? It seems that many lds individuals these days see repentance as a punishment where we have to apologize yet AGAIN to God for the same mistake we have made a thousand times. I know that I have been there, frustrated that once again I could not keep from messing up and stay clean from that problem for even one day! Other days I sit on my knees at nightly prayers and think on my day and say to myself,
"I don't think I have anything to repent for today,"
and move on with my prayers. Something that I
have discovered lately is that this view of
repentance is so skewed.
As I have looked at recent talks, I have realized that repentance is THE GREATEST source of joy we could possibly receive in this life! It is a blessing we should take advantage of every single day and isn't one event. In the last general conference our prophet explained that "when we choose to repent, we choose to change! We allow the Savior to transform us into the best version of ourselves. We choose to grow spiritually and receive joy- the joy of redemption in Him." When I read that, it hit me! The greatest gift given to mankind is the opportunity each day to come to Christ and find joy in the process!
I also realized that repentance can be a simple conversation with the Lord about how we want improve and come closer to Him. It doesn't have to be only when we mess-up big time but should be a life-time process of learning and growing! As we give the Lord our softened heart EVERY DAY, He can then mold us into more pure and sanctified disciples of Christ. Repentance is the outstretched hand of our Savior, the joy of trying again! Repentance is the desire to change a little every day in our journey to become like Christ. If we will take His hand and walk with Him, repentance can be the most joyous experience of our lives. As Alma the younger proclaimed during his repentance, "And oh, what joy and what marvelous light did I behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain." (Alma 36:19)
Challenge: Make an effort in your prayers to "repent" each day this week. This can be as simple as a daily conversation with Heavenly Father about how you can be more like Christ or consistently asking Him "What lack I yet?" (Matt 19:20)
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