--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If besetting sins persistently plague us…" description: "\"“If besetting sins persistently plague us, it is either because we have never truly repented, or because having repented, we have not maintained our re..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/derek-w-h-thomas-46316_regret_if-besetting-sins-persistently-plague-us_361610.jpg" --- # If besetting sins persistently plague us, it is either… ![“If besetting sins persistently plague us, it is either because we have never truly repented, or because having repented, we have not maintained our repentance.” quote by Derek W.H. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/derek-w-h-thomas-46316_regret_if-besetting-sins-persistently-plague-us_361610.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/derek-w-h-thomas-46316_regret_if-besetting-sins-persistently-plague-us_361610.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/derek-w-h-thomas-46316_regret_if-besetting-sins-persistently-plague-us_361610.jpg) > ““If besetting sins persistently plague us, it is either because we have never truly repented, or because having repented, we have not maintained our repentance.”” [Derek W.H. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-w-h-thomas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True repentance requires ongoing commitment, not a one‑time act. **In simple terms:** Repentance is a continuous journey. Key Takeaway Maintain vigilance in personal growth. Themes faith morality self‑improvement discipline Mood contemplative inspirational Type spiritual motivational When to use this quote - personal counseling - spiritual retreats - habit formation - confessional practices Key Concepts theology psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - What habits support lasting repentance? - How do you measure spiritual progress? A Different Perspective Sustaining change is hard; relapse is common. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Besetting Sins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/besetting-sins-2164897/) [Having Repented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/having-repented-2740079/) [Maintained Repentance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maintained-repentance-3319014/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Repentance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repentance/) [Sins Persistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sins-persistently-3319013/) ## Related quotes > [One can repent even of having repented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-berenson/one-can-repent-even-of-having-repented/) [Bernard Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-berenson/) > [Prayer is the surest remedy against the devil and besetting sins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/prayer-is-the-surest-remedy-against-the-devil-and-besetting-sins/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [All my life I have been seeking to climb out of the pit of my besetting sins and I cannot do it and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/all-my-life-i-have-been-seeking-to-climb-out-of-the-pit-of-my/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [“are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, that we may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-whitall-smith/are-to-be-transformed-by-the-renewing-of-our-minds-that-we-may-prove/) [Hannah Whitall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-whitall-smith/) > [The dream is short, repentance long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/the-dream-is-short-repentance-long/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [I am a patient man--always willing to forgive on the Christian terms of repentance, and also to give ample time for repentance. Still, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-am-a-patient-man-always-willing-to-forgive-on-the-christian-terms/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Before a person start to walk the Straight & Narrow Path, they have to make some changes within them self, like turning away from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/before-a-person-start-to-walk-the-straight-narrow-path-they-have-to/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [True reconciliation is never cheap, for it is based on forgiveness which is costly. Forgiveness in turn depends on repentance, which has to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/true-reconciliation-is-never-cheap-for-it-is-based-on-forgiveness/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Real repentance means coming not only to be sorry for the consequences of sin but to hate sin itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/real-repentance-means-coming-not-only-to-be-sorry-for-the/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [“Self-justification is the enemy of repentance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/self-justification-is-the-enemy-of-repentance/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [“We need repentance. You see, repentance is not only going to a priest and confessing. We must free ourselves from the obsession of thoughts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elder-thaddeus-of-vitovnica/we-need-repentance-you-see-repentance-is-not-only-going-to-a-priest/) [Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elder-thaddeus-of-vitovnica/) > [“Repentance seemed like too loose of a word. I knew I’d been wrong, but that didn’t soften the blow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-aquino/repentance-seemed-like-too-loose-of-a-word-i-knew-i-d-been-wrong-but/) [Anna Aquino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-aquino/) > [Calamity, war, famine, plague, death, adversity, disease, injury do not necessarily produce repentance. We may become better in a calamity but it does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/calamity-war-famine-plague-death-adversity-disease-injury-do-not/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“With repentance comes a change of mind that effects a change of direction, since one’s orientation of life is directed in faith to God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-l-bock/with-repentance-comes-a-change-of-mind-that-effects-a-change-of/) [Darrell L. Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-l-bock/) > [True repentance never leads to despair. Its leads home. It leads to grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/true-repentance-never-leads-to-despair-its-leads-home-it-leads-to/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) ## More by Derek W.H. Thomas > [“What naturally comes to mind when I am not thinking about anything in particular?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-w-h-thomas/what-naturally-comes-to-mind-when-i-am-not-thinking-about-anything-in/) [Derek W.H. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-w-h-thomas/) > [“It could not be more significant therefore that Paul-on the heels of the exasperation of Romans 7:14-25-utters the clearest word of assurance: "There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-w-h-thomas/it-could-not-be-more-significant-therefore-that-paul-on-the-heels-of/) [Derek W.H. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-w-h-thomas/) > [“Can we know God's will with certainty? Paul's point is that it is not necessary for its to be certain. The Spirit knows the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-w-h-thomas/can-we-know-god-s-will-with-certainty-paul-s-point-is-that-it-is-not/) [Derek W.H. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-w-h-thomas/) > [“We come to Jesus Christ by faith, renouncing any confidence in our own ability to do anything worthy of God's salvation. Rather, we trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-w-h-thomas/we-come-to-jesus-christ-by-faith-renouncing-any-confidence-in-our-own/) [Derek W.H. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-w-h-thomas/) > [ “The answer to the question, in part, is-in heaven. But Pan\] is seeking in Romans 8 to address another concern: Does the presence of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-w-h-thomas/the-answer-to-the-question-in-part-is-in-heaven-but-pan-is-seeking-in/) [Derek W.H. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-w-h-thomas/) > [“Thus, faith in Christ is not a onetime event; we must live by faith each day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-w-h-thomas/thus-faith-in-christ-is-not-a-onetime-event-we-must-live-by-faith/) [Derek W.H. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-w-h-thomas/) > [“The Spirit serves as our "birth certificate," testifying that we belong to the family of God and, more especially, that we belong to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-w-h-thomas/the-spirit-serves-as-our-birth-certificate-testifying-that-we-belong/) [Derek W.H. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-w-h-thomas/) [Explore all 8 Derek W.H. Thomas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-w-h-thomas/) ## More Regret quotes > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Never fight on the wrong side; you might win but the burden of guilt is more than a loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-salan/never-fight-on-the-wrong-side-you-might-win-but-the-burden-of-guilt/) [Lilian Salan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-salan/) > [I don't regret burning bridges. I regret that some people weren't on those bridges when I burned them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-regret-burning-bridges-i-regret-that-some-people-weren-t-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“As parents who make every effort we can to raise our children in loving security, we do not need to feel more guilt than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/as-parents-who-make-every-effort-we-can-to-raise-our-children-in/) [Gabor Maté](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/) > [The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-cooney/the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-my-managers-wanted-a-big/) [Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-cooney/) > [I have no regrets in my life. I think that everything happens to you for a reason. The hard times that you go through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mero/i-have-no-regrets-in-my-life-i-think-that-everything-happens-to-you/) [Rita Mero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mero/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [“Even in the miserable guilt we feel over our beastlike insensitivity, the glory of God shines. If God were not gloriously desirable, why would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/even-in-the-miserable-guilt-we-feel-over-our-beastlike-insensitivity/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“For those filled with regret, perhaps the most needful exercise of proactivity is to realize that past mistakes are also out there in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/for-those-filled-with-regret-perhaps-the-most-needful-exercise-of/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [I would rather regret the things that I have done than the things that I have not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-ball/i-would-rather-regret-the-things-that-i-have-done-than-the-things/) [Lucille Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-ball/) > [One of the things I regret about not putting in that book or I think it's there but I didn't really elaborate on it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/one-of-the-things-i-regret-about-not-putting-in-that-book-or-i-think/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [Having no regrets is very unrealistic. Everyone has that awkward or embarrassing moment they wish they could take back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayden-hayes/having-no-regrets-is-very-unrealistic-everyone-has-that-awkward-or/) [Jayden Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayden-hayes/) > [I always had a sort of niggling regret that we didn't come do stuff in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-fielding/i-always-had-a-sort-of-niggling-regret-that-we-didn-t-come-do-stuff/) [Noel Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-fielding/) > [I am not perfect by any means and ill be the first to admit I make plenty of mistakes but I wont make them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-not-perfect-by-any-means-and-ill-be-the-first-to-admit-i-make/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“ving self and others is an every second of every day of every week, of every month, of every year gift that should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjo-jendayi/ving-self-and-others-is-an-every-second-of-every-day-of-every-week-of/) [Sanjo Jendayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjo-jendayi/) [Browse all 9,960 Regret quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If besetting sins persistently plague us, it is either because we have never truly repented, or because having repented, we have not maintained our repentance.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Derek W.H. 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