⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9 ESV)

Confession and repentance walk hand and hand. We must first confess our sins and then we must repent from the act that caused our sin. However, we can get into a loop of habitual sin that is sin and confession without repentance. The operative word in that last is the word habitual.

Everything we do has the potential to be habit forming, even bad things. Look, sin most often feels good in the doing, but it is the regret we feel once done that points to a habitual sin. We can even find that we are using some form of sin as a release. We use it to make ourselves feel better if even for a moment.

We need to put a finger on this type of sin and call it out in our lives for what it is, habitual. Then we need to work toward eradicating such sin in our lives. Continuing to point it out before the action and asking the Spirit for the strength to resist the temptation.

Reflect on: The elements of your life that have become habitual. Which do you need to put a finger on and pray for strength over?