Every day we make mistakes.
We say and do things we know are wrong, hurtful or leading us in a direction away from where we want to end up.
And every day we can decide to change our trajectory.
How do we do that? In the Bible, Luke 3:8 tells us to “produce fruit in keeping with repentance.”
UGH.
Do we hate that word “repentance?” I used to. Until I learned that to repent simply means to turn around.
Like in 180°.
About face.
U-turn.
To see that we are headed the wrong way, catch it and say “I blew it. I’m sorry, God. I want to turn around.”
It’s really not as painful as we seem convinced it is. Well, okay, some things can be – like when we’ve lied to someone, or said something behind their back, or broken a promise. Yes, it is hard to come clean that we’ve been looking at inappropriate material or using the company card for our personal benefit. But when we’re taking our life forward into better, repentance is the way to go. Besides…
God already forgave us.
Done deal. So our acknowledging our sinful ways and receiving his forgiveness is a simple step. And every time we repent, it gets easier. Then we actually sin less. Some attitudes or action need to be repented of a hundred times in a day at first, but each time creates a new path. Thank goodness.
So what’s this “fruit of repentance?”
The evidence that we’re getting it.
God tells us there are 3 things that show when we are living a repentant lifestyle:
- Generosity – A heart that is willing to give to those in need. Things, time, resources.
- Honesty -No lying to secure something for ourselves. No accusing others for our gain.
- Contentment – Being happy with what we have without trying to take more than our share.
I’m so grateful God forgives us and then gives us a barometer to remind us of how we’re doing. Embracing a repentant life means we’re living a freer life. I’m all for that!
Is there some area where you feel you need to make a U-Turn? I’d love to hear about it.
Laura Bennet - Author 
I love your description of repentance. It really does make the word less frightful. Still challenging to truly repent, but you broke it down into something easier to digest. Just making a U-turn and then staying in that direction!
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I’m so glad you found it helpful! Someone described it that way to me and it forever changed the way I think about it. Now it’s easier to think of repentance as a good thing rather than bad. And knowing that when we see we’re going the wrong way, acknowledge it and turn around he is “faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us of all unRIGHTeousness.” There is NO condemnation, only forgiveness and redemption. Isn’t that a relieving breath of fresh air?
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