2 February
Repentance allows you to tap into God’s blessings
In the Old Testament, the two Hebrew verbs for repentance are shuv meaning to return and icham meaning to feel sorrow. Throughout the Old Testament repentance means confessing your sin to God, making a solemn promise to avoid committing the same sin again.
In the New Testament, the Greek word for repentance is metanoia meaning a change of heart, and repentance is a central theme.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV) . . . if my people, who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Isaiah 55:6-7 (ESV) “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Acts 2:38 (ESV) And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Joel 2:32 (NIV) And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved;
God wants everyone to repent. In Joel 2, after calling His people to true repentance, God makes this promise as He points toward a supernatural economy based upon the double blessing outpouring:
According to Paula White, there are seven supernatural blessings that God desperately wants to release to you:
- Double portion, Joel 2:23 (NLT) Rejoice, you people of Jerusalem! Rejoice in the LORD your God! For the rain he sends demonstrates his faithfulness. Once more the autumn rains will come, as well as the rains of spring.
- Financial Abundance, Joel 2:24 (NLT) The threshing floors will again be piled high with grain, and the presses will overflow with new wine and olive oil.
- Restoration, Joel 2:25 (NLT) The LORD says, “I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts, the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts. It was I who sent this great destroying army against you.
- Miracles, Joel 2:26 (NLT) “Once again you will have all the food you want, and you will praise the LORD your God, who does these miracles for you. Never again will my people be disgraced.
- God’s divine presence, Joel 2:27 (NLT) “Then you will know that I am among my people Israel, that I am the Lord your God, and there is no other. Never again will my people be disgraced.
- Blessing upon your family, Joel 2:28 (NLT) “Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions.
- Deliverance, Joel 2:32 (NLT) But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved, for some on Mount Zion in Jerusalem will escape, just as the LORD has said. These will be among the survivors whom the LORD has called.
God is ready to pour His blessing over your life. Be ready and receive it on this day.
Ezekiel 34:26 (NKJV) I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing.
Deuteronomy 28:2 (NKJV) And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God.