“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Romans 12:21 NKJV
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
Psalms 51:10 NKJV
Repentance is a theme that appears consistently throughout both the Old and New Testaments, and this is no coincidence. Apostle Paul captures the human condition vividly in Romans 7:18–19 (NKJV): “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.” This experience is common to all men. Even the most spiritually disciplined believer must daily mortify the flesh and intentionally walk in the Spirit.
Our opening text warns us not to be overcome by evil but to overcome evil with good, which implies that evil can cloud or influence even the just if given room. Paul reinforces this in Ephesians 4:27(NKJV) when he instructs, “nor give place to the devil.” This means it is possible—consciously or unconsciously—to grant the enemy access through the weakness of the flesh, creating room for temptation and sin. These warnings reveal God’s love and His desire to proactively keep us from falling. If He is calling us to repentance and surrender, it is because He has identified an impediment that may hinder His move in our lives and in our church. His call is an invitation to clear the way so He can accomplish His purposes in us and through us.
Repentance, however, is not merely a feeling; it is an action. The Hebrew word nacham means “to be sorry, to regret,” signifying a genuine godly sorrow. In the New Testament, two words are of particular interest: metamelomai, which mirrors the Old Testament meaning of regret; and metanoia, which goes further to describe a change of mind and direction—an intentional turning away from something and turning toward God. There is no vacuum in the realm of the Spirit. When we repent, we turn from self-reliance (Proverbs 3:5–6), from wandering in our own ways (Isaiah 53:6), from the sins that easily ensnare us (Hebrews 12:1), and we turn fully to God.
David demonstrates this heart posture in Psalm 51:10 (NKJV) when he pleads, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Scripture gives us a clear pattern: before every divine move, God calls His people to repentance. “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways…” (2 Chronicles 7:14, NKJV). Repentance always precedes restoration, renewal, and revival.
Psalm 51:17 further assures us that God does not despise a broken and contrite heart. Repentance and surrender position us to receive what God longs to do because they are acts of willingness. “If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land” (Isaiah 1:19, NKJV). Repentance also removes the enemy’s grounds for accusation—not because God is swayed by Satan’s claims, but because accusations create doubt and double-mindedness in our own hearts, hindering us from receiving (James 1:7). A repentant heart is a stable heart—able to trust, hear, and follow God fully.
Prayer Points:
1. Dear Jesus, You see me and know me. In Your mercy, reveal any inconsistencies, weaknesses, or unsurrendered areas of my life. Give me the grace to lay them down and allow You to take pre-eminence.
2. In my life this year and forever, Lord Jesus, I declare that I am not overcome by evil, but I overcome evil with good, because You are working in me both to will and to do of Your good pleasure.
3. Lord Jesus, let me enjoy the benefits of a surrendered life. As I place my trust in You, establish my steps and make my ways steady.
4. Father, create in me a heart that responds quickly to Your correction. Deliver me from stubbornness, hardness of heart, or anything that resists Your will. Make my spirit tender and obedient.
5. Holy Spirit, help me turn completely from anything that displeases You. Strengthen my resolve to walk in purity, holiness, and full surrender so that nothing hinders Your move in my life and church.
Further Study:
Luke 13:5; 2 Timothy 2:19–22; 1 Peter 1:16
