iBelieve - Christian Women Inspirational Devotionals

Your Nightly Prayer

The Freedom of Repentance
Your Nightly Prayer
By Candice Lucey

TONIGHT'S SCRIPTURE

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins.” - 1 John 1:9

SOMETHING TO PONDER

When I was five years old, I knocked over an ornament of my mother’s, and it broke. I was too afraid to tell her at first, but she said to my brother and me, “whoever did this, please be honest. I will be more upset if you lie to me.” I was afraid of the shame of being guilty, of upsetting my mother. But I didn’t want to cause her even more pain or be separated from her because I had lied. Even in the short time I contemplated my guilt, hoping not to be exposed, the burden was heavy. It was all I could think about, a form of slavery to my young mind and heart. There was a consequence - the pain of my mother’s disappointment, but she forgave me.

We fear exposure - being caught in our sin. Hiding our sin is like carrying an anvil in a backpack while trying to live an ordinary life. It weighs us down and knocks into other things, so we break more things, including relationships. We have to bring our sins to God and hand over that weight, or it will bury us and destroy our friendships, marriages, etc. Of course, there is discipline, and the oppression of trying to hide it is part of that. And we need to mourn over what our sin cost: our Savior on the cross, in the tomb, separated from God. But in our mourning, we meet the mercy of our Father. We must repent, but not dwell in shame because Jesus did not dwell in the darkness he endured to pay for our sin. He rose from the grave, “despising the shame” of the cross. (Hebrews 12:2)

God already knows what we did, and he has not rejected us. He turned his face away from Christ so that, as believers who repent of our sin, we would never be separated from God. As long as we turn to him in true repentance, we receive forgiveness and relief. As Matt Smethurst explains, “if Jesus really meets repentance with comfort, not condemnation—then no longer do you need to fear being exposed. [...] No longer do you need to fear studying your heart and plumbing the depths of your disease.” You are free to face your sin and let God change your heart because you know he will not crush you, and he will not reject you. Your relationship with the Father is restored. As the Apostle Paul assured us in Romans 10:11, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”

YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER

Father,
Thank you for taking the weight off of my shoulders; for meeting my repentance with both your discipline and your mercy. Thank you for the cross where you paid the price I deserved to pay but could not. Thank you that my shame is buried, but you are not, and by the power of your Holy Spirit, all believers possess that resurrection power to overcome death, to not be tempted and crushed by sin. Your forgiveness is a rich and holy gift: never let me forget it, so that, with my freedom, my life will be a joyful testament to your goodness and grace. Increase my faith in the sufficiency of Christ’s victory. Let your power meet me in repentance to sanctify and equip me so that temptations no longer overwhelm me, and I am truly changed by your work inside of me.
Amen.

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON

1. Before you ask forgiveness of God, sit with him for a while and grieve your sin. Commit to turning away from sin and ask God for the power to change. True repentance is not quick and thoughtless. “Godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10). As for forgiveness from a heart softened and ready for sanctification.

2. “Worldly grief” is thoughtless verbalizing of sorrow that goes only skin-deep, never reaching the heart. God knows if you mean it or not. And if someone says “sorry” to you without meaning it, which you can see by the way they go back to their sinfulness towards you, realize that God sees the lie. He will call the sinner to account. If that is you, God sees your heart. Let him free you from sin.

3. Paul also says repentance leads to “salvation without regret”. Do not let the past hold you hostage. God’s forgiveness is an invitation to live in the present with him. Once you have confessed and asked forgiveness of him and anyone else, move forward. Think of riding a bike: if you always look down, you will have a tendency to fall down. If you look forward, with Jesus in your sights, you can see and follow his example and stay upright.

Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.

Candice Lucey is a freelance writer from British Columbia, Canada, where she lives with her family. Find out more about her here.