“From that time Jesus began to preach and say, ‘Repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life], for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” (Matthew 4: 17, Amplified Bible)

The kingdom of heaven is at hand—it is within our reach at all times. To gain a true heavenly sense of harmony and peace and satisfaction, we don’t need the outward world to change and to bring us treasures on a silver platter. This wonderful kingdom isn’t about an angelic afterlife. It is about a present opportunity to be free.

And this freedom comes from repentance. This repenting is not some act of self-flagellation and penance. It is about changing our way of thinking. It is being willing to release old beliefs and behaviors, motives and fears, and being ready to accept God’s loving purpose for us.

It may seem difficult to change our inner self, as this verse illuminates, but we have God with us in this, helping us. The Christ is revealing that this self that feels so real and unworthy, damaged and fearful, is not who we are at all. Repentance is choosing to no longer cling to the ego’s sense of itself and instead to yield to our true selves—worthy, innocent, humbly ready to live God’s intention for us.

With relief, we can give up the old way of thinking with its limits and lies, and begin to think and act more truly, more naturally, and live a more heavenly life today.

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