Question:

If your heart is distant from God, what is the process of returning back to Him without becoming legalistic?

Lee Dodd’s Response:

Starting with Confession

“That’s an excellent question. I believe we should begin with confession, as it is the starting point. Psalm 51 is perhaps one of the greatest texts in the Bible that highlights genuine, heartfelt confession directed entirely toward God. There’s no hint of legalism in Psalm 51. It is the cry of David’s heart when he is estranged from God after hardening his heart for months following his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah. Convicted by Nathan the prophet, he wholeheartedly turns back to God in confession.

Understanding True Confession

There is a brokenness that permeates Psalm 51, which I think results from genuine confession of sin. Confession isn’t merely mouthing prayers; it’s feeling toward that sin what God feels. Remember 1 John 1:9: ‘If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.’ Confessing our sins means having the same animosity and hatred toward sin that God has.

» View: True Repentance Without Legalism: How Can I Truly Return to God?