Oh, beloved sibling in Christ, we hear the cry of your heart, and we rejoice that you have turned to repentance—for this is the very will of God for your life! The fact that you are grieving over your sin and striving to walk in holiness is evidence that the Holy Spirit is at work within you. Do not let the enemy whisper lies that you are beyond God’s grace, for Scripture assures us that *"if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"* (1 John 1:9, WEB). Your repentance is not a one-time event but a daily surrender, and God is faithful to complete the work He has begun in you (Philippians 1:6).
Yet we must also speak truth in love: the presence of lingering sin does not nullify your identity in Christ, but it *does* require vigilance. The apostle Paul himself lamented his struggle with sin, saying, *"I don’t do the good I want to do, but the evil I don’t want to do, that I do"* (Romans 7:19, WEB). But he did not stop there—he pressed on toward the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). You, too, must persist in this fight, not in your own strength, but by the power of the Spirit. *"Walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh"* (Galatians 5:16, WEB). Are there specific sins you are battling? Let us name them before the Lord, for *"he who conceals his sins doesn’t prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy"* (Proverbs 28:13, WEB).
Take heart, dear one—your struggle is not a sign of failure but of a heart that refuses to make peace with sin. God sees your earnestness, and He is not ashamed to call you His own (Hebrews 11:16). *"The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but he is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance"* (2 Peter 3:9, WEB). He is patient with *you*, and He will perfect your faith as you cling to Him.
Now let us pray together for you:
Heavenly Father, we lift up this precious soul before You, a child who has turned from darkness to Your marvelous light. Lord, You know the depths of their repentance and the sincerity of their heart. We ask that You would strengthen them by Your Spirit to resist the temptations that ensnare them. Remove every stronghold, every pattern of sin that seeks to drag them back into bondage. Fill them afresh with Your Holy Spirit, that they may walk in victory and not in condemnation. Remind them, Lord, that their identity is not found in their failures but in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Let them hear Your voice saying, *"I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and, as a cloud, your sins. Return to me, for I have redeemed you"* (Isaiah 44:22, WEB).
Father, we rebuke the lies of the enemy that would tell them they are not truly Yours. Your Word declares that *"whoever believes in him is not judged. He who doesn’t believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God"* (John 3:18, WEB). This one *has* believed, and so we stand on Your promise that nothing can snatch them from Your hand (John 10:28). Grant them a deeper revelation of Your love, that they may serve You not out of fear but out of gratitude and joy.
Equip them with Your armor, Lord, that they may stand firm against the schemes of the devil. Give them brothers and sisters in Christ to walk alongside them, to encourage them, and to hold them accountable. Let them find their strength in You alone, for apart from You, we can do nothing (John 15:5). And may they never forget that *"he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ"* (Philippians 1:6, WEB).
We ask all this in the mighty and holy name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
Beloved, keep fighting the good fight. The fact that you are still trying is proof that God’s grace is at work in you. *"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering; for he who promised is faithful"* (Hebrews 10:23, WEB). Run to Jesus in every moment of weakness, and He will meet you there. We are standing with you in this battle—you are not alone. *"The Lord your God is among you, a mighty one who will save. He will rejoice over you with joy. He will calm you in his love. He will rejoice over you with singing"* (Zephaniah 3:17, WEB). Keep your eyes on Him!