"And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. He prayed to him, and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God." -2 Chronicles 33:12–13

Resolved: experience what Manasseh experienced in this moment. Here in Israel's history we see the fruit of repentance in the Old Testament: to live a life of humble reliance on the Lord, to repent from sin and turn to God instead.

In the New Testament, God's goodness, mercy, and favor are all ours in Christ; his loving kindness brings us to repentance and newness of life. We can't neglect repentance.

We can't avoid this humbling that the Lord has called us to. Because Jesus worked to save us, we no longer have to hide behind our false pride and favorite sins. Now, because there is no condemnation, we can turn it all over to Jesus and run to him instead of to those things.

Today, stay close to Christ. Let his grace and love bring you low, to humble repentance. Then turn from those lesser things and cling to the Savior.