One of the most important foundational subjects in the Scriptures that we ought to understand is repentance. But we must ask, “What does it mean to repent?”
When some people see the word ‘repent’ they are afraid and want to run away. That word seems to frighten people. But the word ‘repent’ is a very wonderful word! And the action of genuine repentance is something that the angels of the Most High God of heaven love to witness (Luke 15:10).
Whenever sincere repentance happens to a person, it is most often because that person has had a revelation, a moment of sudden and significant understanding. As one verse in the Bible explains it – they come to their senses (2Timothy 2:26a). And as we saw in They Came to Their Senses, when they cry out to the Almighty God and genuine repentance happens, then that person will change entirely (2Corinthians 5:17).
There are many verses and examples of repentance in the Bible. Father God has not left us without directions and instructions for our repentance.
One very clear set of instructions is given by the Prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah pointed out three simple, beginning steps — instructions for The Way of Repentance:
- Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD. (Lamentations 3:40)
Step 1 – Searching;
Step 2 – Trying (examining) Our Ways;
Step 3 – Turning to the LORD
In this article, we will see how we might understand and apply each of these steps that God has given to us in the Bible!
Following Instructions Brings Understanding
Following instructions is what brings understanding! We are creatures who need instructions! We were designed from our very beginning to love the LORD God (whose Hebrew name is Yahuwah Elohim), the All-Mighty Creator! We were designed to love Him and to love others as well.
As we saw in Only The Wise Shall Understand, the LORD created us, designed us, and loves us! And, He cares for us! Therefore as the Loving, Heavenly Father that He is, He has given us an Instruction Manual, an Operator’s Guidebook called The Holy Bible — given specifically to help us function at our maximum, effective, and meaningful abilities.
“God designed the human machine to run on Himself. God Himself is the ‘fuel’ our spirits were designed to burn, the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other! God cannot give us a happiness and a peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.” — C. S. Lewis
How many of us have regretted not following the instructions?!? How many of us have wished we had humbled ourselves, wished we had been teachable, and followed the instructions from the beginning? We could have saved ourselves at lot of grief if only we had followed the instructions from the start!
Let’s look at each of The 3 Steps of The Way of Repentance as recommended by the Prophet Jeremiah. I have combined the Three Steps of this study into one article, so this is a rather long article. But as I have said before, we will never grow to maturity unless we discipline ourselves to diligently read quality articles that inform us and instruct us in God’s ways.
It has been said that ‘Great Things Take Time!‘ So if you truly want to learn what is pleasing to our heavenly Father, then take the time to learn what this study presents, for you will find it to be acceptable unto edification.
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The Way of Repentance: Step 1 – Searching
Everyone has moments of difficulties that seem like running into a brick wall. The wall is a conflict, a hard clash. Nothing seems right! We are confused and shaken!
IF we are honest, we will acknowledge that our difficult situations reveal how helpless we are at times, how little we understand of ourselves and others! And, IF we are honest, then such hardships and disappointments should cause us to begin searching — searching for clarity and understanding. This is exactly what I did. I yearned to discover some understanding of my problems, so I began to search.
Are you willing to make the effort to do this First Step of The Way of Repentance — to search and honestly analyze the good as well as the bad about yourself and your frustrating circumstances? Are you a genuine Thirsty Soul? Are you willing to search for answers that confirm the truth about yourself and about life itself?
Such searching for truth is considered by God to be honourable, even glorious:
- It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour (glory) of kings is to search out a matter. (Proverbs 25:2)
Thirsty Souls are those who take the ‘high’ road (Proverbs 15:24) — they take the honourable road, and begin searching for true, noble understanding! Thirsty Souls are True Seekers – willing to analyze, recognize, and accept their confusion and dissatisfaction. They are not puffed up with their own intellect and talents! Thirsty Souls yearn for truth and understanding on a very personal level.
True Seekers are searching for answers! That means they will begin the hard, but honourable, work of objectively searching for real solutions to their problems — solutions that are according to the truth! (Psalms 119:142, 151, 160)
Searching may be a difficult process, requiring time, patience, and diligence, but that is the nature of true searching! You search diligently until you discover the deep, rewarding conviction within your soul that you have found what is really true — that you have found something of ‘Great Value’:
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of Great Value, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. (Matthew 13:45-46).
My son, eat honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to your taste: so shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto your soul: when you have found it, then there shall be a reward, and your hope shall not be cut off. (Proverbs 24:13-14)
Your Words (O LORD) were found, and I did eat them; and Your Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart…. (Jeremiah 15:16a)
Searching For Truth
Since we are searching for truth, the very best person to lead us into genuine truth is the Supreme God of Truth, the God of the Bible – the LORD God (Yahuwah Elohim) — Creator of heaven and earth, the Most High God over all the earth, and who knows us intimately.
Searching for truth, clinging to truth no matter where it leads us — such an attitude ought to be paramount to anyone who is sensible. Therefore we should take note that the LORD has declared in the Scriptures many times that He is the true God, the God of Truth, and There is None Else!
He (the LORD) is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: a God of Truth and without iniquity, righteous and upright is He. (Deuteronomy 32:4).
Into Your hand I commit my spirit: You have redeemed me, O LORD God of Truth. (Psalms 31:5)
Know therefore this day, and consider it in your heart, that Yahuwah [the LORD] He is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else. (Deuteronomy 4:39)
But Yahuwah [the LORD] is the true God, He is the living God, an everlasting King: at His wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide His indignation. (Jeremiah 10:10)
I am the LORD, there is none else, there is no God beside Me. (Isaiah 45:5a)
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You (Yahuwah / the LORD) are God. (Psalms 90:2)
Our Creator, whose existence is certain truth and is unlimited in His abilities (Psalms 33:6), gave us the divinely-inspired, written Word of God [the Bible] as The Standard for TRUTH. The LORD God did not leave The Standard for Truth to man’s reasonings, inventions, or imaginations! God gave us the Bible as the solid, permanent Reference Point for Truth!
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. (2Timothy 3:16).
For the Word of God is alive, powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing apart of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
The entrance of Your Words give light; it gives understanding unto the simple. (Psalms 119:130)
By the Word of the LORD (Yahuwah) were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. For He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. (Psalms 33:6,9)
When we accept and receive God’s written Word as it is – The Truth – then we can be teachable, searching His Word, gaining wisdom, understanding, and answers that are according to truth! When we honestly and objectively examine the Bible, as many have done, there is no question that the Bible is given by inspiration of the Almighty God of Israel — the omnipotent, omniscient originator and Ruler of the universe!
Over and over, the Bible proves to be a unique, powerful, and transforming revelation from the True, Eternal God! It is a writing like no other! And millions have been changed for the better, simply because they have read, studied, and followed the teachings/the instructions in the Bible.
“In the spiritual realm, the Bible is the standard of that which is straight – that which is true! Anything that departs from the Bible is false. Whether it departs by little or much is relatively unimportant. Some of the subtlest deceptions are those that appear to differ only a little from the Bible.” — Derek Prince (See A Way That Seems Right: Avoiding the Strong Delusion)
Genuine Searchers
IF we are a genuine Searcher then our searching must take us to the Bible (the Scriptures) where we will begin to find the help we need for answers to our personal struggles. We should be searching the pages of the Bible, especially in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John) so that we can learn what our Saviour is like and what He did for us. The books of Romans, Hebrews, Psalms, and Proverbs are also good books within the Bible for starting our search.
Searching involves looking thoroughly, objectively, and patiently in order to find something that is truly valuable. We should be earnest in our searching of the Scriptures, being persistent until we find true and lasting answers, until we have a genuine, personal encounter of the true, supreme, and living God, just as King David did (Psalms 27:4; Psalms 63:1-2)!
The great thing about seeking God’s Word for answers (answers that bring a genuine peace to our restless soul) is that God has promises for True Seekers:
- And you shall seek Me, and find Me, when you shall search for Me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13).
- The LORD is near unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth (Psalms 145:18).
- Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness! For they shall be filled. (Matthew 5:6)
This is a very brief look at what it means to do the honourable work of ‘searching’ for answers that confirm the truth about ourselves and about life itself. May it be, dear Thirsty Soul, that you will do the courageous thing and continue onward in your search, and begin Step 2 of The Way of Repentance — Trying (examining) Our Ways.
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The Way of Repentance: Step 2 – Trying (testing; examining) Our Ways
As we do our searching for understanding that is according to God’s truth (Psalms 119:169), it should become clear to us that we need to ‘try’ or examine our own ways, as the Prophet Jeremiah urges (Lamentations 3:40). Genuine, courageous Searchers do Step 2 — they begin to Try Their Ways! They test (examine and consider) their ways against God’s written Word. Genuine Searchers begin to consider and re-consider their ways just as King David did, and as the LORD urges us to do:
I considered and thought on my ways, and have turned my steps to Your statutes. (Psalms 119:59)
Because he considers, and turns away from all his transgressions that he has committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. (Ezekiel 18:28)
Now, therefore, thus says Yahuwah [the LORD] of hosts: Consider your ways. You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill…. (Haggai 1:5-6a)
Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith. Test your own selves. Do you not know yourselves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except you be reprobates (rejected, abandoned)? (2Corintians 13:5)
Trying, examining, and considering our ways begins with a sincere and objective examination of reflecting and thinking about our ways. We examine, or test, our ways by asking ourselves many questions:
- Are my ways truthful and upright?
- Are my ways really satisfying or am I frustrated and disappointed again and again?
- Are my ways guiding me in a pathway that ends in contentment or in regret?
- Can I be trusted?
- Do I insist upon doing something that my conscience is uneasy about?
- Do I grumble or complain constantly, being irritated easily?
- What am I really doing with my life? Am I accomplishing anything worthwhile?
These are the sort of questions the Prodigal Son must have asked himself in Luke 15:17.
As we saw in They Came to Their Senses, the Prodigal Son began to consider his ways. He examined his circumstances, searching for answers to his dilemma. He analyzed his situation, considering the reasons for why he was in his very difficult predicament, and why he was extremely dissatisfied with his life.
The ‘Trying of Our Ways’ comes as a result of our searching. The trying of our ways leads us to test and reflect on many things about our life — our motives, our own understanding. We need to consider our behaviour, our selfishness, our irritations. 
The trying of our ways should be carried out with an honest and objective look at our own reasonings. We must be willing to humble ourselves, be willing to say, “I might be wrong.” We must be willing to empty ourselves of our prideful ways and not think so highly of ourselves.
It is through our searching of God’s Word [the Bible] that our understanding becomes enlightened because we begin to receive an understanding of the loving and merciful God (Proverbs 2:6; Proverbs 9:10; 1John 4:9-10). And we come to the realization that the Bible reveals life as it really is! The Bible does not gloss over or cover up the evils of this world.
As we are examining our ways, it should begin to be clear to us that our ways do not line up with God’s truth or expectations of us. We should be discovering that God’s ways are better, much higher than our ways:
- For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the LORD [Yahuwah]. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts [are higher] than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)
As we examine, or test, our ways against what God’s written Word teaches, we should continue asking ourselves questions:
Am I being truthful to myself and to others, as God desires me to be? (Deuteronomy 5:20; Psalms 51:6a)
Am I honouring and respecting my parents and my elders, as God desires me to do? (Deuteronomy 5:16; Leviticus 19:32)
Am I maintaining purity in all my relationships, as God desires of me? (Deuteronomy 5:18; 1Corinthians 6:18)
Am I avoiding every form of cheating, lying, or stealing, as God desires of me? (Deuteronomy 5:20; Deuteronomy 5:19)
Am I avoiding every appearance of evil, as God desires of me? (1Thessalonians 5:22; Psalms 37:27)
Am I acknowledging God in all I do, asking Him to guide me in all my ways, as God desires of me? (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Am I maintaining a patient attitude, enduring trying circumstances with an even temper, as God desires of me? (Psalms 37:7-8; Hebrews 10:36)
Have I been Born-Again and received Jesus Christ (Yahushua Messiah) as my Saviour, and been water baptized, as God desires me to do? (John 3:3,7; Ephesians 4:22-24; Matthew 28:19)
This is a very brief look at what it means to do the honourable work of ‘searching’ for truth, and then to begin the courageous step of trying our ways. Now we will discuss the eternally significant Step 3 of The Way of Repentance — Turning to the LORD.
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The Way of Repentance: Step 3 – Turning to the LORD
Our ‘Searching’ and the ‘Trying of Our Ways’, should cause us to take heed to ourselves and think about all we have been studying. There comes a moment of truth when we need to take to heart the things we have learned. Now is the time to heed, be attentive, to what we have learned. Now is the time to enter into the valley of decision and make a decision. (Note: making ‘No decision’ is actually making a decision to do nothing, and to be a drifter.)
This Step 3 of The Way of Repentance is putting Step 1 and Step 2 into action. It is an extremely important time for anyone who is truly searching for truth and trying their ways! It is a time to be of a humble attitude, asking God to reveal Himself to you by His Holy Spirit.
God wants to show you the truth because He is the God of Truth, and because He truly loves you!! (Jeremiah 10:10a; John 3:16). So you can talk to Him at any time and ask Him to guide you into what is true. You can ask Him to open the eyes of your understanding and show you the true path.
The questions now are: will we do the great and honourable thing of ‘turning’ our heart toward the Almighty, Everlasting God, and ask Him for help? Will we look to Him and patiently wait for answers? Will we begin to talk to God [the God of the Bible], cry out to Him, acknowledging our need for Him to reveal Himself to us?
This Step 3 of The Way of Repentance is the very essence of repentance! This ‘Turning to the LORD’ is truly a ‘defining moment,’ a moment of genuine humility before God — a moment which greatly pleases the LORD (Yahuwah) — because He Himself is looking for those who are sincerely looking for Him (1Peter 5:6; Matthew 18:4; Psalms 14:2; 2Chronicles 16:9a).
Will we be like King David, who was ‘a man after God’s own heart’ (Acts 13:22b)?
David was a man of great authority and wisdom, but also he was a man of failings and weaknesses. Yet despite his moments of transgressions and shame, he always returned to humility and acknowledged his great need for Yahuwah [the LORD].
Notice carefully some of David’s prayers:
O that my ways were directed to keep Your statutes! (Psalm 119:5)
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalms 51:10)
O let me not wander from Your commandments (Psalm 119:10b)
Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your Torah [Law] (God’s instructions and guidelines) (Psalms 119:34a)
For I will declare my iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin. (Psalms 38:18)
Are the above prayers an expression of our own heart’s desire? Can we cry out to God by saying: “O that my ways were directed to keep Your statutes!” That cry carries a deep yearning. This is the kind of yearning that Father God is looking for — a truly repentant heart — a heart that recognizes the shameful condition of his sinful heart — a heart that has come to know that indeed the LORD God (Yahuwah Elohim) is the One and Only True God!
Or do we consider ourselves better than King David? Do we think we can manage our life without turning to God?
An Honest and Good Heart
This ‘turning to the LORD’ is the consequence of our searching and the trying (testing, examining) of our ways. This turning reveals a heart that has searched God’s written Word [the Bible], has rightly considered and discerned God’s truth and His great love for each one of us, and therefore begins to understand the tremendous need to obey God.
This is the ‘honest and good heart’ that receives, and desires to keep the ‘Seed’ of God’s Word that He plants in our heart, as seen in the Parable of the Sower.
In the Parable of the Sower (see Matthew 13; Mark 4; Luke 8), Yahushua [the Hebrew name for Jesus] describes four different conditions of the heart. There is one condition that reflects sincere repentance: ‘an honest and good heart’.
The Seed, which is the Word of God, that fell on the good ground are they which:
- … in an honest and good heart, having heard the Word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. (Luke 8:15)
Such an ‘honest and good heart’ is a teachable heart! A teachable heart wants God’s truth and wisdom! A teachable heart wants God’s teachings, and therefore calls upon God in the name of His precious Son, Jesus Christ (Yahushua Messiah).
An ‘honest and good heart’ has come to understand the immense love our Saviour has for each one of us individually! Therefore we turn to Him, we acknowledge Him, we accept Him and determine to learn and do what truly pleases Him!
And, as we saw in Messiah: Not an Ordinary Man, Messiah’s deity is definite and reliable truth. When He did what He did, His divine qualities were revealed and manifested!! When Jesus performed miracles, He did not pray asking God to do the various miracles. He simply spoke the Words and it happened, which is exactly what is declared in Psalms 33:9 – “For He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood firm.”
Therefore based on our sincere searching and the trying of our ways, we now make the decision to turn to God in the name of our Saviour, and call upon Him, asking for His mercy and His help:
Teach me Your way, Yahuwah [LORD]; I will walk in Your truth: unite my heart to fear Your name. (Psalms 86:11)
Teach me, Yahuwah [LORD], the way of Your statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. (Psalms 119:33)
Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed Your commandments. (Psalms 119:66)
Teach me to do Your will; for You are my God: Your spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. (Psalms 143:10)
For You, LORD, are good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon You. (Psalms 86:5)
From the above passage of Psalms 143:10, we see that if our heart’s desire is to learn and do God’s will by obeying His ways and guidelines, then the heavenly Father will lead us, by His Holy Spirit, into the land of uprightness.
“God waits for you to communicate with Him. You have instant, direct access to God by prayer. God loves mankind so much that He has made Himself available to you at all times!” — Wesley L. Duewel
With an honest, good, and teachable heart, we make the decision to turn to the True and Everlasting God and Saviour, and begin to sincerely talk to Him. We make the firm decision to ‘walk in His truth’ — turning from our own ways, and being obedient to His written Word, while trusting in His love and support!
It is these actions that describe the ‘fruit’ of repentance. It is this kind of decision that will result in the transforming miracle of becoming a New Creation in Messiah (2Corintians 5:17). Whenever such an event happens, we begin to know a great inner peace that surpasses our understanding! And, as Jesus told us — there is also great joy in heaven:
- Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents. (Luke 15:10)
We have discussed very briefly the 1st Step, the 2nd Step, and now the 3rd Step of The Way of Repentance recommended by the prophet Jeremiah. After looking at these 3 Steps, we can better understand what the Prophet Jeremiah meant when he said,
- Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD. Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens. (Lamentations 3:40-41)
For further understanding of ‘turning’ to the LORD God, see the article GOOD NEWS – 3 Truths to Finding Peace With God.
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Related Articles:
- Turning From Darkness to Light
- The Key to Gaining Understanding
- Messiah: Not an Ordinary Man
- Seeking God With All Our Heart
- Preparing Our Heart to Seek God
- Lead Me In Your Truth: Part 1 – The Basics
- Acquiring A Teachable Heart
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Cold Waters to a Thirsty Soul 