Postby termyt » Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:12 am
God is more interested in what is in your heart than what is in your head. Repentance is an important part of the forgiveness equation, as is your own ability to forgive. If you yourself do not forgive, you will not be forgiven.
That said, I think you are examining yourself at too high a level. Are you concerned about forgiveness when you are not sorry for what you have done? Or are you sorry for what you have done, but for some reason feel like your apology to God is insincere?
If you are sorry, but are unsure how to ask for forgiveness, then don’t worry about it so much. God knows what is in your heart and is faithful to forgive you. All you need to do is spend more time with Him.
If you are not sorry, then you have a little more work to do. Search yourself. Why aren’t you sorry? How can you believe that you’ve done something wrong and not be sorry about it? Apparently you don’t think it’s wrong, but you think God does. IF that’s the case, then you need to conform your own thoughts and feelings to God’s.
Either way, you need to develop a meaningful relationship with God. You do that in three ways.
First, read the Bible. You can’t know God unless you know His Word.
Second, pray. A lot. Talk to Him about everything – like you talk to a friend. He’s not too busy to be bothered with the little things of your life – He actually wants you to share with Him that way.
Third, study God. Talk with others who want to know Him. Talk with those who know Him better than you. In other words, join a Bible study. Go to church. Spend time with Christians.
Honestly, I haven’t done a very good job with this recently, and my relationship with God has suffered. I miss it greatly. Things seem to annoy me more, my patience runs out faster, and I just don’t feels good about myself when I stop talking to Him regularly.