Repentance today mostly is a casual thing many Christians do at salvation. And this why many born again Christians still have wicked ways. No. We must let God reach down into our heart, for it is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked! (Jeremiah 17:9). How can we solve this problem? A: We must humble ourselves.
2 Chronicles 7:14 says:
“If My people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
This humility, what is it?
Is it having a somber look? No.
Is it ripping robes and putting dust on your head as they did in the Old Testament?
The ripping of clothes and putting ashes on the head was an outward sign of humility and mourning.
Q: Do we have to do that today as New Testament Christians.
A: No. But what we do have to do is to rend our hearts and not our garments (See Joel 2:12-13) and turn to the Lord with prayer and fasting.
How can a Christian rend his heart? Who can practically humble themselves?
A: Through prayer with fasting. No food for a period of time. That is how the Israelites humbled themselves during the day of atonement. God told them:
“You are to afflict your souls.”
Q: How were they to do that?
A: They were to mourn and not eat anything, pray and seek God.
David said, “I humbled my soul with fasting.” (Psalm 35:13).
Jesus said, “Repent, for The Kingdom of God is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17).
Our repentance should not be just casual but heart rending (with prayer and fasting) so we can deal with wickedness. Yes, we have Scripture to help us in this also, but Jesus and the New Testament saints did not do away with prayer and fasting.