It is Time to Mourn
by Anika Jones
Church, it’s time to mourn. It is time we side with God concerning our sins and those of our brothers and sisters. Let us not hold on to sin as if it were a treasure.
During this fast, let us pray for an awakening from spiritual slumber. May we have God’s heart concerning the state of the church, individually and collectively. Let us be a people that are genuinely broken about sin and get on our faces in genuine contrition because of the ways we may have drifted from our first love.
What exactly do we need to mourn about? Here are a few suggestions.
We need to mourn about how we have prioritized other things over the kingdom, even the “good” things.
Matthew 6:33- “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
We need to mourn about how we have pursued comfort over godliness and living as if this world were our home.
1Timothy 6:6-10- “But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
We need to mourn over the ways we have been looking back instead of keeping a steady gaze on Jesus.
Luke 9:62- “Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
We need to mourn over how our hearts have shifted off of what is eternal, and how we have allowed the cares of this world to distract us.
Colossians 3:1-2 –“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
We need to mourn over how we have allowed our feelings to dictate our actions instead of walking by faith.
Hebrews 10:38- “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.”
We need to mourn over the compromise and a rejection of holiness that has settled in our hearts.
1 Peter 1:14-16-“As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
We need to mourn over how we have conformed to the ways of the world attempting to be relevant.
Romans 12:2- “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
We need to mourn over our hesitancy to call sin for what it really is and declaring the full counsel of God because we don’t want to offend others.
2 Timothy 4:2-4 -“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”
Romans 1:16-17 -“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
I love that God promises that we are in a blessed state when we mourn over our sins. God is pleased with a contrite heart and promises that those who mourn will receive comfort. We serve such a good God.
Matthew 5:4 -"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."
Church, it’s time to mourn. It is time we side with God concerning our sins and those of our brothers and sisters. Let us not hold on to sin as if it were a treasure.
During this fast, let us pray for an awakening from spiritual slumber. May we have God’s heart concerning the state of the church, individually and collectively. Let us be a people that are genuinely broken about sin and get on our faces in genuine contrition because of the ways we may have drifted from our first love.
What exactly do we need to mourn about? Here are a few suggestions.
We need to mourn about how we have prioritized other things over the kingdom, even the “good” things.
Matthew 6:33- “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
We need to mourn about how we have pursued comfort over godliness and living as if this world were our home.
1Timothy 6:6-10- “But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
We need to mourn over the ways we have been looking back instead of keeping a steady gaze on Jesus.
Luke 9:62- “Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
We need to mourn over how our hearts have shifted off of what is eternal, and how we have allowed the cares of this world to distract us.
Colossians 3:1-2 –“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
We need to mourn over how we have allowed our feelings to dictate our actions instead of walking by faith.
Hebrews 10:38- “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.”
We need to mourn over the compromise and a rejection of holiness that has settled in our hearts.
1 Peter 1:14-16-“As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
We need to mourn over how we have conformed to the ways of the world attempting to be relevant.
Romans 12:2- “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
We need to mourn over our hesitancy to call sin for what it really is and declaring the full counsel of God because we don’t want to offend others.
2 Timothy 4:2-4 -“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”
Romans 1:16-17 -“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
I love that God promises that we are in a blessed state when we mourn over our sins. God is pleased with a contrite heart and promises that those who mourn will receive comfort. We serve such a good God.
Matthew 5:4 -"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."
Posted in Devotionals
Posted in blessed are those who mourn, contrite heart, repentance, cooperate repentance
Posted in blessed are those who mourn, contrite heart, repentance, cooperate repentance