“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies. Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.” Psalm 51:1-2 (NKJV)

It was nearly 25 years ago, but I vividly remember the day I gave my life to Christ. I stood weeping at the altar, asking God to cleanse me of my sins and to save me. Coming facing to face with the sin in my life left me with a broken and contrite spirit.

When we accept Christ as our personal savior, there is an initial repentance that saves us from the eternal penalty of sin. But as we grow in our walk with Him, repentance should become a part of our daily prayer life and communication with God. 

Thomas Watson Sr. defines repentance as, “A grace of God whereby a person is inwardly humbled and visibly transformed.”

Why is repentance important in the life of the believer?  

Maintaining a repentant heart releases a unique grace: the work of the Spirit of God on the inside of us causes us to turn away from sin and enables us to live a more Christ-like life.

In Psalm 51, David cried out to God after he had come face to face with the sin he had committed with Bathsheba. His humble cry released God’s grace and mercy, a gift that cleansed and transformed him, enabling him to live more like His savior.

That’s the power of repentance!

Lord, we cry out to You and ask You to forgive us of anything that we have done, said, or haven’t done that is against Your word and will for our lives. Thank You for Your spirit in us, that leads us to repentance. Thank You for Your grace that forgives us and transforms us to become more like You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Take Action

Is there something that you need to repent of? Cry out to God and receive His grace.



Tags: repentance