PRAYER - REPENT - When you need help doing what is right

SCRIPTURE
James 4:8 | Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

Matthew 26:41 | Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!

Hebrews 4:14-16 | So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

1 John 1:9 | But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

DISCUSSION
Repentance is more than just saying you are sorry. Repenting is where you stop going the wrong way, turn Gods way, and start walking that way instead. A heart that is truly repentant is more than sorry or regretful for its choices. The heart that is repentant is grieved that sin has distanced them from walking closely with the Lord and wants nothing more than to close that gap. It bows humbly at the feet of the Savior, asking for His mercy and grace because of the cross. The good news? God always forgives and your sin has already been paid for by the blood of Christ. Because of that, Gods follower then gets up and walks God way with Him as their guide.

1. Jesus was also tempted to do wrong, even though He always chose to do what was right. He knows how it feels when we are struggling to do what is right. Because of that, what does Hebrews say we should do when we need help?
2. In the middle of struggling to do, think about, or say what is right, how can prayer help?
3. Do you pray when you are tempted or struggling to make the right choice? Why or why not? If now, how will you practice or discipline yourself so that you become a doer in this way?
4. 1st John promises that God forgives us when we repent. Do you believe this?
5. Have you ever still felt guilty for something after asking for Gods forgiveness? Do you think that guilt came from God or from satan?