"Rend your hearts, and not your garments.

"Rend your hearts, and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing— grain offerings and drink offerings for the LORD your God." Joel 2:12,13 NIV

"Rend your hearts, and not your garments."
It is not so much the outward appearance that must change but our heats. Let the outward appearance be the true reflection of what is inside of us. "Rend your hearts...."

"Return to the LORD your God"
Man's tendency when in sin is to run away from God instead of towards Him. Only God can deal with sin in the best possible way that no other can. The best person to turn to when in great mess is God and He will turn your great mess into greatness. "Return to the Lord..." not your friend or neighbour but the Lord."Where could I go but to the Lord?"

"For he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity."
Whatever mess in your life, you can never sin to a point of exhausting God's grace and mercy, His patience and love. "When evil abounds, grace also abounds". Come to the gracious and merciful Father, He's waiting to receive you again.

"Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing"
 It's amazing what repentance can do to God's mind. A changed heart can change God's mind. Not only does a changed heart change the mind of God, it also causes Him to release a special blessing for the repentant one. Wow! Every time we repent and decide to turn away from our wicked ways, our Heavenly Father is ready to bless us. How much more if we do it sincerely and not play church?

Challenge
Take a moment and confess to him today. Submit to Him today. Tell Him all, there's nothing He's not aware of.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9, NIV

Prayer
Father in the name of Jesus Christ, thank you once again for another opportunity to stand right with you. I confess all my sins. I return to you, please forgive me. Let me be a witness of your grace and compassion this day. In Jesus's Name, Amen!

ITU Maboye