For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. (2 Corinthians 7:10 ESV)

By: Scott Schuler

What happens once conviction brings sin or a sense of unsettledness to mind? God’s prompting encourages you to bring specific issues to Jesus so he can release you from unhealthy habits or thought patterns. Fear of failure—or even of success—unforgiveness, lustful thoughts, pain, addictions, lying, greed, or other repetitive acts that result in cycles of unhealthy emotions can harden your heart.

Come clean and restore your relationship with Jesus by repenting, which means to confess and then turn away from sin and poor choices.

As you bring baggage, faults, and failures to Jesus, say something like this:

Jesus, thank you for allowing me to come to you just the way I am. I lay my fears and failures, my hurts and sorrows, my past and present before you. Please help me sift through the emotions and experiences that have hardened my heart. Grant me wisdom to understand how these thoughts and actions have created a barrier between us. I ask for your forgiveness. Help me forgive myself. In your name, I pray. Amen.

Jesus sometimes provides instant healing.

Other times, he heals gradually. But he is always listening (1 Peter 3:12). Your part is to come to him with what he places on your heart and mind through conviction.

A surrendered, repentant heart becomes pliable in Jesus’ hands, as he reshapes and restores it.

He has promised, “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26).

What is it that you need to talk to Jesus today about what is troubling in your heart?

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