Repentance Confessional Prayers

It Just Makes Sense

By Kyle Reno

The word repentance rightly carries a lot of weight. But religion, as it often does, robs us of its true meaning and creates bondage around something that is meant to offer life.

True repentance is a wonderful gift. It births freedom, gives fresh starts, and glorifies God.

Across the whole of Scripture, we see many beautiful accounts of men and women in our faith line who came face to face with their own brokenness and made the right move. They turned away from their sin, made a prayerful confession, and moved toward the God who is rich in mercy.

And do you know what each of them experienced? Transformation.

Jesus’ Surprising First Message

Many have written, preached, and modeled repentance, but for a moment let’s look to Jesus and maybe gain a fresh understanding of repentance. In Matthew 4:12–17 (esv), it says:

Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
    the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
the people dwelling in darkness
    have seen a great light,
and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
    on them a light has dawned.”

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

After overcoming temptation in the wilderness, Jesus steps out in the fullness of the Spirit to start His earthly ministry and fulfills a very specific prophecy. Everything was aligning as God had foretold.

John fulfilled his part in preparing the way for the coming Messiah by preaching a message of repentance. And his preaching landed him in prison. John’s time was ending, and Jesus’ was just beginning.

What would the Son of God, filled with the Spirit of God, preach first?

Now, you have to imagine that Jesus has had all of eternity past to put together His first message. If anyone could have wowed humanity with words, it was Him.

He could have preached about Creation as One who was there. He could have preached on the prophecies in Scripture as One who understood and would fulfill them. If anyone could have apologetically preached in such a way to move the heart of the skeptic, it was Jesus.

Instead, Jesus came with a simple yet profound message: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Think about that. The One who knows how we come to have eternal and abundant life gives a foundational message of our faith. Unlike any other who had ever shared it before, He was also the fulfillment of it. He was telling those who would listen a simple truth: It’s time to turn, because I’m here!

I believe this gives us a fuller understanding of repentance. Repentance just makes sense when you find yourself in the presence of God.

Face to Face

In this moment of Scripture, the audience is face to face with the King who is establishing His Kingdom on earth. Jesus is calling them to turn from whatever they are living for and follow the One who can give them life.

Can you imagine someone hearing this message from the lips of God in flesh and carrying on as normal? You should—because we all have.

When God says to stop pursuing a life that will never satisfy you and turn to the One who has all that you long for, it’s time to listen. It’s the greatest invitation humanity could ever accept.

We know this was a special moment in Jesus’ earthly ministry because it was the beginning of something. It’s a message that must be responded to right now. Repentance is something we as broken people keep finding the need for in ever deeper ways.

David knew the depths of true repentance when he cried out for forgiveness after his affair with Bathsheba. Psalm 51—a great passage to pray through—expresses the agony of his heart. Oh, that we would repent with prayers that mirror David’s desperation for God (vs. 1–2):

Have mercy on me, O God,

    according to your unfailing love;

according to your great compassion

    blot out my transgressions.

Wash away all my iniquity

    and cleanse me from my sin.

Let’s hear the voice of the Lord again. Let’s stop, listen to His simple message, and respond in repentant prayer. Take time today to repent of wherever the world, the flesh, or the devil has been moving you toward a lesser life. Be honest. God already knows.

As you turn, see the face of the King welcoming you again into the work of the Kingdom. Follow Him into a future that promises great purpose and the joy of His presence.

KYLE RENO is senior pastor at Crossgates Baptist Church in Brandon, MS. He is also part of the team at BetterMan.