Qualifying repentance

If our plea to God for deliverance is sincere and authentic, we are actually free before we even ask.

True repentance releases freedom not because of what we say, but because of the posture of our heart.

Sometimes we loop with repentance because our repentance is not always sincere. By looping, I mean repeatedly repenting for the same sin because we never truly repented; or perhaps, we are unsure whether God is paying attention. We may start to wonder if He sees us at all, or if He's listening.

Let's unpack sincere repentance that is a gift from God:

Often, we repent to avoid judgment, discipline, or the consequences we fear. In doing so, we are not pursuing transformation, we are avoiding it. When repentance becomes a strategy for self-preservation, it becomes self-centered. We make repentance about ourselves instead of about God’s holiness and love.

God’s holiness calls us into sinless living. He uses His love to draw us back when we fall. Repentance is not merely turning away from sin.  It is a returning to God. This was how the prodigal repented; he returned to remember who he truly was. God’s intention is that once we are washed in the blood of Jesus, we become new creations, and only love flows from us. This is always the fruit of authentic repentance. Authentic repentance will always produce transformation.

God is not requiring penance for our sins. He is requiring sincerity and truth. He is not seeking to punish—He is seeking reunion. He is longsuffering, rich in mercy, and always ready to forgive. The “I don’t deserve it” mentality is invalid and dangerous because it blocks deliverance. Of course we don’t deserve it!  Only the enemy reminds us of that. Grace was never about what we deserve.

So, examine your repentance. Is it rooted in self-preservation, or does the fear of the Lord create in you a holy aversion to sin? Do you want more than anything to honor God and to love Him for giving you His Son, for His sacrifice, for restoring you into oneness with Himself?

True repentance simply says:
“I love You, and I want to be where You are—one with You. I want my life to honor Your life.”

Repentance isn’t running from sin. It’s about running back to God.