GIVE ME THIS PART, TOO
Yolanda Lindsay
Today’s Scripture: “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,” Acts 3:19, ESV
Theme: Repentance is not punishment; it is an invitation back to God.
WHEN OUR CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE BEFORE OUR HEARTS DO
If you know me, you probably know that I love to shop. And when I say I love to shop, I mean I can find a reason why almost anything is necessary. Target can humble me in ways I am not prepared to discuss in a church devotional. For most of my adult life, I worked. I made my own money, and our family became accustomed to a certain lifestyle. If I wanted to buy something, I usually bought it. If we wanted to take a trip, we’d figure it out. And if I saw something cute that absolutely nobody in our household needed… well, sometimes it still found its way home with me. But my life looks different now. Since my double lung transplant, I haven’t returned to work, which means my husband is currently the sole provider for our family. The problem was that while our circumstances had changed, my mindset hadn’t necessarily changed with them. I still wanted to spend the way I always had. I wanted to travel. I wanted the extras. I wanted to say, “We’ll figure it out,” without stopping to consider what “figuring it out” might require from someone else. And my husband loves me tremendously. He’s not someone who wants to tell me “No.” After everything our family has walked through, he wants to see me happy. But eventually, I had to recognize something uncomfortable: his willingness to give me what I wanted didn’t mean I was honoring him—or God—by taking it. Ouch.
THE ISSUE WASN’T TARGET
That’s the thing about conviction. Sometimes God doesn’t reveal something in our lives because He’s trying to take our joy away. He reveals it because He loves us enough to show us where something needs to change. For me, repentance in this area has looked very practical. It means thinking before spending. Budgeting differently. Understanding that “I want it” and “We can responsibly afford it” aren’t the same thing.
It means considering what’s best for my husband and our entire family instead of simply what will make me happy in the moment. And I’m still working on it. I haven’t suddenly become the person who walks into Target for toothpaste and leaves with only toothpaste. Let’s not get carried away. But I’m learning. I’m learning that repentance isn’t motivated by God standing over me saying, “Look what you did wrong.” It’s motivated by God lovingly saying, “Give Me this part of your life, too.” Because sometimes the hardest things to surrender aren’t the things we immediately recognize as sinful. Sometimes they’re the habits, attitudes, comforts, desires, and ways of living that we’ve simply decided belong to us.
Sometimes following Jesus means being willing to say, “God, I didn’t realize how tightly I was holding onto this. But if You say it needs to change, I’m willing to turn around.”
AN INVITATION NOT A PUNISHMENT
A call to action is what makes Acts 3:19 so powerful:
“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out.” There is movement in that verse. Repent. Turn back. Repentance isn’t simply feeling bad about what we’ve done. It is agreeing with God about it and allowing Him to change our direction. It’s a loving Father saying, “Come back to Me.”
Conviction says, “Come back.”
Shame says, “Stay away.”
And there is a huge difference between the two. God offers forgiveness, restoration, and freedom to everyone who turns to Him. The Christian life isn’t one moment of surrender followed by a lifetime of getting everything right. The Christian life is one of continually surrendering every area of our lives to Him.
Our finances.
Our relationships.
Our marriages.
Our parenting.
Our pride.
Our anger.
Our habits.
Our plans.
Our time.
Our words.
Even the parts of our lives we’ve never thought to question. For me, right now, one of those areas is money and spending. For you, it may be something completely different. But the invitation is the same: “Give Me this part, too.” God isn’t inviting us to repentance so He can punish us. He’s inviting us to turn around and come closer to Him.
Make It Personal: What area of your life have you been explaining, defending, or justifying that God may be asking you to surrender? Ask Him today, “Lord, is there an area of my life I haven’t completely given to You?” If He brings something to mind, don’t defend it or allow shame to make you hide. Turn toward Him. The God calling you to repentance is the same God offering you forgiveness, restoration, and freedom.
Pray: Father, thank You for loving me enough to show me the areas of my life that need to change. Help me understand that Your conviction is not condemnation, but an invitation to come closer to You. Give me the humility to stop defending and holding tightly to what You are asking me to surrender. Search my heart and show me anything that needs to change. Give me the courage to repent, turn back, and trust that Your way is better than mine. Today, I give You every part of my life—even the parts that are difficult to release. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
Read: Psalm 139:23–24, 2 Corinthians 7:9–10, 1 John 1:8–9, Romans 12:1–2
Weekly Memory Verse: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans, 3:23