TUESDAY | Lent Series: Returning to the Heart of God | How to Repent Biblically

Yesterday, we asked God to search our hearts. Today, we respond to what He reveals.

Repentance is not merely saying sorry or feeling sorry. It is turning. And that, I have discovered, is one of the hardest things for us to do.

The apostle Peter declared in Acts 3:19 (KJV): “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.”

Repent. Be converted. Be blotted out. Be refreshed.

Conversion implies a change of direction. And it is often difficult because turning requires humility and surrender. 

James 4:6 (KJV) tells us “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” 

Repentance, Family, is not emotional regret. That can be easy, especially for people who speak but don’t mean what they say. 

But repentance is actually spiritual reversal. It is a deliberate decision to change direction. Now that sounds easy, but many believers find this hard to do.

The word repent means to change one’s mind. In Scripture, a changed mind produces a changed life.

Peter did not say, “Feel bad.” He said, “Repent… and be converted.”

Conversion implies movement. It means you were going one way, and now you are going another. True repentance produces visible fruit. Now this is where it becomes challenging. Some people expect immediate perfection. But while repentance is a decision made in a moment, transformation often unfolds over time. The turning is immediate. The growing is a process.

In 2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV), the Lord says: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Notice the order: Humble. Pray. Seek. Turn. Then God responds.

As turning requires humility, repentance begins with humility. It begins when we stop defending ourselves. When we stop blaming others. When we stop minimising what God has already named.

To further explain that: When God has already called something sin, compromise, pride, bitterness, or disobedience, repentance begins when we stop trying to soften it, justify it, or rename it. For example: Calling sin a “mistake.” Calling pride “confidence.” Calling disobedience “a season.” Calling compromise “wisdom.”

Humility says, “If God calls it wrong, it is wrong.”

So repentance starts when we agree with God instead of arguing with Him.

King David models this in Psalm 51 after his sin was exposed. He did not justify himself. He cried out in Psalm 51:1, KJV: “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness… blot out my transgressions.”

David acknowledged his sin. He asked for cleansing. He asked for renewal: “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10, KJV.

That, Family, is biblical repentance. It is confession and transformation.

Remember Judas? After betraying Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, he felt remorse. He returned the money. He confessed, “I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood”. Matthew 27:3–4 (KJV). But he did not turn back to Christ. Instead, he went away in despair (verse 5).

Compare that to Peter, who wept bitterly after denying Jesus three times in Matthew 26:75 (KJV). Peter failed publicly, but he turned back. He ran toward the risen Christ, and he was restored (John 21:15–17 KJV).

One was remorse without return. The other was repentance with restoration.

Family, repentance is not punishment. It is preparation.

When the prodigal son “came to himself” in Luke 15, he said, “I will arise and go to my father.” He did not stay in the far country rehearsing guilt. He got up and returned.

That is repentance.

Today, let us ask ourselves: what direction have I been walking that does not align with God’s will?

Repentance may mean ending a conversation you know dishonours Him. It may mean correcting something you justified. It may mean restoring a relationship. It may mean laying down pride.

God promises that when we turn, He responds. The next step is ours. Will we turn?

Acts 3:19 promises times of refreshing. 2 Chronicles 7:14 promises forgiveness and healing.

There is no renewal without repentance. There is no resurrection without surrender.

But hear this clearly: repentance is not condemnation.

Psalm 103:12 (KJV) declares: “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”

Conviction says, “Come back.” Condemnation says, “Stay away.”

Biblical repentance always draws us toward God, never away from Him.

As we continue this Lenten journey, let’s not delay the turning.

Let us humble ourselves. Pray. Seek His face. Turn from what He has revealed. And He will hear. He will forgive. He will heal.

This is the time for repentance. This is the time for renewal. This is the time to return to the heart of God. 

Click here for the full Live Empowerment Session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5qyYw2Z8cE