A Personal Invitation

"Repent . . . . Come after me." //Mark 1:15, 17

The dishes by the sink, the broken window that needs repairs, the disagreement in the background that too quickly reaches whiny bickering status. I snap under the pressure, yelling reprimands throughout the house. The chaos has stolen my faux sense of order, and I've let myself act like a raving lunatic.

"Repent."

Gradually, the Spirit stirs in my heart, and I realize what I've done. I let the feeling of overwhelm dictate the state of my heart. It was ugly, and I regret behaving so poorly. Several deep breaths and a plea of "Lord, help" later, I turn to my kids and apologize.

I wonder if Simon and Andrew had already heard any of Jesus' messages urging people to "Repent, and believe in the Gospel!" or if they noticed Him in the distance while they fished. Immersed in their work, distant from the shore, I wonder if Jesus' voice startled them.

Certainly they weren't expecting a personal call from the Messiah.

That personal call changes everything.

Jesus doesn't just stand on a mountaintop and shout about repentance with a megaphone. He calls you and me individually by name, inviting us to come after Him because He longs to walk with us and transform our lives day by day.

Sister, Jesus' proclamation of the Good News isn't about calling us out based on our shortcomings. His call to repentance is an ongoing, moment by moment, invitation to a life of healing and joy in relationship with Him.

It's for every person, for every situation. He calls us to turn back to Him, to repent, because He cares about all aspects of our lives. Even the smallest of our vices are things He wants to help us overcome. Even the smallest wounds we carry deep in our hearts He wants to heal. Even the occasions I turn my back on grace and let the dishes, bickering kids, and looming deadlines overwhelm me, even then He calls me gently to return to Him, and once again receive His healing love. That, sister, is the personal call to repent and believe in the Gospel.

Where is He calling you today?

He wants to heal. // Gina FenstererClick to tweet

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About Gina Fensterer

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Gina Fensterer is a wife of 20 years and mother of six children. She is passionate about finding God in the ordinary moments of her vocation. She loves Adoration, praying with Scripture, long morning walks, and fitness. She was a contributing author to And Hay Became Holy and our children's devotional prayer book called Rise Up. Read more by her here.