In the past I have written articles on The Disappearance of True Repentance, Repentance Unto Salvation, and Repentance and Cleansing. In this article I will be focusing on the practice of repentance by the spirit of habitual repentance.
In my experience the most prevalent reason for failure in a believer’s life is the neglect of habitual repentance. Habitual repentance relieves a person from his burden when he has been destroyed by sin or when he is struggling with particular temptations. Relief is always found at the cross whether it is repentance unto salvation or habitual repentance in a believer’s life. The person that is saved can rejoice that his sins are no longer able to bring him under condemnation (Romans 8:1) because of “being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). But repentance does not stop here. There is a continuous battle that will go on in the believer“for the flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary to one another” so that you do not do the things that you wish. (Galatians 5:17) Paul speaks in Romans 7 of “sin” that dwells in us (Romans 7:17-20) and that “evil is present” within us (Romans 7:21). But on the other hand, as believers, we “delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But we see another law in our members, warring against the law of our minds and bringing us into captivity to the law of sin which is in our members.” (Romans 7:22-28)
The acknowledgment of this war must be realized because we all find ourselves sinning at times as believers. And, we must never give place to sin or take sin lightly for it will always bring a believer into defeat or bondage to the devil him self. “Be angry and do not sin (letting anger take root), do not let the sun go down on your wrath (leading to bitterness, resentment, rage and unforgiveness) nor give place to the devil.” (Ephesians 4:26-27)
This angry mood can be disarmed by taking the anger to the Lord and asking Him to forgive you in order that you may experience immediate “forgiveness and cleansing for your sins.” (I John 1:9) Confess your sin as sin, repenting of the sin by turning away from it, forsaking it, giving it no place to harbor in your soul. For “sin is at the door and it’s desire is for you.” (Genesis 4:7) Also, “looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.” (Hebrews 12:15)
Since you’ll be receiving this letter just before Christmas, you might want to confess your neglect of keeping your soul cleansed and forgiven by not taking your sins to the cross immediately, “not letting the sun go down on your sins”, in order that you mayexperience the marvelous, wonderful grace of forgiveness for your sinful behaviors, attitudes, moods or some other sin you need to take to the cross. (II Cor. 7:1) It will be a wonderful Christmas present to your loved ones. Then, make it a habit to keep sin subdued by practicing the habit of repentance and your victory will begin to manifest in your life.
May you have a very Blessed Christmas!
