So often, when we think of repentance, we think of “cleaning up our lives” or “getting our acts together.” We tend to “try harder” to change our lives by building better habits. This may work for a time, but it always ends in defeat.

Sorrow or grief over sin is another aspect of repentance that we often focus on. When the Lord convicts us of sin in our lives, it is all too easy to fall into depression or discouragement while thinking that this is repentance. This can become a vicious circle of discouragement, depression, and defeat.

While repentance does lead to a change of behavior and involves sorrow over sin, Biblical repentance is much deeper than that. True repentance begins as we saturate our minds and hearts with the Word of God. This internal change is then worked out in a person’s life, resulting in a change of their actions. Jesus’ call to repentance is an invitation to exchange our mind for His!