We’re on day 2 of highlighting Evangelist Steve Pettit’s free booklet, How to Pray 15 Minutes a Day. He uses the acrostic PRAY: Praise, Repent, Ask, Yield as a way to help believers learn how to pray.
Of the seven local churches to whom the apostle John wrote in the book of Revelation, five he condemned and called to repentance because they had committed sins that grieved God and quenched the Holy Spirit. Interestingly, the two churches commended by the Lord were either persecuted or poor—descriptions that are certainly not distinguishing characteristics of most American churches today.
What is the real struggle among God’s people today? I believe it’s our failure to deal thoroughly with sin. The fundamental problem is not lack of evangelism (though we need more of that), but lack of holy living. Christians need spiritual revival, which is always preceded by repentance. David wrote in Psalm 51:9–10, “Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Neglect of confession leads to broken fellowship with God, eventual chastisement, and the possibility of a ruined testimony or a loss of one’s life. If bills are not paid immediately, the interest may kill you! Don’t let your sin account go unconfessed. How do we confess sin?
Forgive as Often as You Want to Be Forgiven!
This is continued in his free booklet, How to Pray 15 Minutes a Day.
