What is repentance?

Repentance comes from the Greek word Μετάνοια or metanoia, which means a “transformative change of heart” says Merriam-Webster, or a “change in one’s way of life resulting from penitence or spiritual conversion” says Oxford Dictionaries. The free dictionary describes metanoia as a “fundamental change in character or outlook.” Metanoia—or repentance, means a change in direction. But, to change the direction, you first have to realize you are going the wrong way.

Step 1: Realization

The first step to a new heart is realizing you have a defective one. This step is where the Holy Spirit works it’s magic. You can’t force realization. The truth may only be presented by people; it is up to God to convict us. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. But once you are convicted, you have the realization of past and present wrongs. Here is where you can go one of two ways: either harden your heart to your mistake and not take responsibility for it, push it aside as not important, or you can do the opposite. That is where humility comes into place.

For me, God convicted me minutes after I had sinned, but I hardened my heart and shoved it aside out of pride. Years later, God again brought to my memory my sin. I had been unloving and unkind toward someone, but I was too prideful to admit it. He kept presenting the truth and convicting me. Again, I pushed it away. This happened over and over until finally, I couldn’t live with it anymore. The weight was too heavy for me to carry alone. I knew how freedom from sin felt, and I knew I needed to come clean.

Step 2: Humility

The next step to a new heart is to humble yourself before God by admitting your sin.

My situation came to the point where I couldn’t stop thinking about what I had done. I call myself a follower of Christ, but I certainly didn’t act like one at that time. So, after years and years, I did what I knew how to do; I wrote a letter. I wrote a letter after years of not talking to the person I sinned against. This next part is essential. I had already confessed to God, I attempted to make it right with the person, and now I had to talk to someone else. I spoke to my Mom. It hurt to tell her because I knew I had changed, but I still had to suffer the aftermath of my sin, even if it was in the past. So, humility is admitting you were wrong and asking God for forgiveness, making it right with the people involved, and confessing your sins to others.

Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

Matthew 5:23-24 23

Be reconciled with the people involved.

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

James 5:16

Confess to God and others.

Step 3: Metanoia

A change in direction. After realizing you have sinned, humbling yourself by asking for forgiveness, the last step is a change in direction. A full 180.

It was purely an act of God in my case because as soon as I realized my sin and humbled myself by asking for forgiveness, another trial came. God allowed another challenge to present itself, and it was an opportunity for me to realize how I needed to rely on God for both my forgiveness and my redirection moving forward. This situation was interesting because of how similar it was to what had happened before. This time, it was much more challenging to handle. I had to bite my tongue, hold my breath, pray with all the desperation within me to keep myself from saying dumb stuff. Because all those who know me know that I have strong opinions and have a hard time keeping my mouth shut. I’m still a work in progress.

Anyway, being prepared for the next “level” is a part of this process to a new heart. It is like a refining process. First, you weed out the big stuff and work your way to the smaller stuff. With our sinful hearts, God starts with little things, like don’t lie, steal, etc. and then work your way to harder trials like love others, pray for others, etc.

 A new heart

A new heart is a lifelong work that only God can complete in us. He promises that He will finish what he started when we surrendered to Him.

 Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6

In every small, medium, and large situation that crosses our paths, giving the situation to God is the only way to win the battle. We alone don’t have the power to have Godly hearts; only God can give us Godliness.

Repentance

Repentance and a new heart go hand in hand because the only way to grow is through discomfort. For us to feel discomfort is for us to realize that whatever is happening isn’t right. Realization starts with discomfort. Discomfort to realization, realization to humility, humility to reconciliation, and reconciliation to a change in direction—a new heart. The process of repentance is the process of a new heart. Becoming completely in Christ means changing little by little, growing inch by inch.

Until we meet again,

-Alycia Dantier

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

I have made my fair share of mistakes. I have sinned again and again, but you still guide me, gently, with patience and perseverance. You remind me daily that my idea of perfection is a fantasy. You remind me that falling into your arms is the only way to move forward into the only pure perfection there is: Your perfection. God, give me the willingness and humility and wisdom to submit to you when I can’t fix my own heart. Remind me to check my heart, Lord. Thank you for being ready to forgive and gentle enough to know when to push me and when to let me breathe. Thank you, God, for your forgiveness.

Amen