Repentance in the Moment

From Daily Readings by Wild at Heart by John Eldredge

June 5, 2026 · 1 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the importance of quick repentance and maintaining intimacy with God after sinning.

Will we do it perfectly? Of course not. Friends, let’s set perfection aside. We are on our way, we are being transformed, but the moment we insist on total perfection we set ourselves up for bitter disappointment. Sin shall not be our master, because we are under grace. Grace. So it might be more helpful for us to talk about what to do when we blow it. Repent quickly. The sooner the better. For one thing, you do not want to lose your intimacy with God. For another, you know the enemy is going jump all over you when you blow it, and you don’t want to get hammered by that for days, weeks, months, years. Also, you are after freedom; the longer you wait to repent, the deeper a hold the sin gets in you. Repent quickly; it looks something like this: First, run to God. "Father, forgive me. I’m sorry. I ask your forgiveness for [fill in the blank – this envy, that comment, the lust, my cowardice] . O forgive me, father." Second, renounce it. If you intend to repeat it, your repentance is a fraud. By renouncing it you summon your soul to the posture that you do not intend to repeat it. Furthermore, when you sin, you give way to forces that you do not want running pell-mell around your…

People in this episode

Host: John Eldredge

Topics covered

repentance
grace
sin
intimacy with God
spiritual transformation
freedom

Keywords

repentance
grace
sin
intimacy
freedom
spirituality
transformation

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Ephesians 4:26-27