Most repentance efforts fail and by failure I mean that either, 1) we continue to practice the sin we are repenting of and/or, 2) we feel stuck in shame before God and lack the freedom His forgiveness is intended to provide.
In part 1, we concluded that our confession of complete brokenness and desperate and utter dependence upon God is the entry point of effective repentance. Letting your sin drive you to this place and to the reminder of your desperate need of God is the critical first step. Learning to live in this space will also empower us to walk more closely with God, leaning into His Presence and power so that we live for Him more effectively.
The second reason repentance efforts often fail is that we keep a laser focus on our failure and sin, rather than on God’s forgiveness and empowering Presence that can move us forward. In our repentance, we focus on the sin we are seeking to leave but repentance is just as much about what we are running TO as it is about what we are running FROM.
In Psalm 51, David, whose sin is as gross as yours could ever be, moves incredibly quickly from the confession of the depth of his sin problem into a declaration of the person he will become through and for God. “Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow” (v7). This is followed by requests of God to cleanse his heart, renew his spirit, give him God’s supernatural Presence, and restore his joy. Then, bam! “I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you.” (V13)
David refuses to stay in the penalty box of sin one minute longer than necessary, even though his sin was a major violation! He moves quickly to renewal and ministry, not as a “my sin was no big deal so let’s just move on” kind of move, but as a “God’s forgiveness and renewing power is so great that I can move ahead into His preferred future for my life right now!” Kind of thing.
Listen, if you have stared into the abyss of iniquity that is your natural soul, and have asked God to forgive and renew you, then get on with it - by faith in the power of the one who purchased your freedom with His own blood! Don’t wallow in shame and guilt - to do so (and this is so counterintuitive) is idolatry, for your are declaring that your sin is more powerful than the blood and grace of God.
Part of defeating your own depravity and living in the power of God is to live as though God’s Word is always true and His power is limitlessly transforming. That means repent hard and then move on confidently into the freedom Jesus purchased for you - do so with joy, gratitude, and a commitment to help others do the same - all for the glory of God!