How long does it take to repent? What does repentance look like?  How do I prove that I have repented? To answer these questions, let’s begin by looking at the definition of repent. To repent means to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one’s life. at the definition of repent. To repent means to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one’s life. The key phrase is “to turn” or in other words “to change direction.” So, let’s say you were going north prior to repentance. After repentance, you should be going south in the opposite direction.

Now, repentance does not take years, months, weeks, days, or hours. The moment you turn from sin, God also turns and forgives you. Nineveh is a great example. God was going to destroy Nineveh because of its wickedness, but before God put His plan into action, he sent Jonah with this message, “Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown” (Jonah 3:4). The people believed the message from God, and in response, the king and the people put on sackcloth, sat in ashes, fasted, and cried out to God (Jonah 3:5-9), and if that were not enough, the king commanded that even the animals should fast and be dressed in sackcloth.

Scripture is silent on the number of days the people carried out this act of repentance, but that’s not important to know. What is important to know is that God responded to their act of repentance. “God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way, and God repented of the evil, that he had said he would do unto them; and did it not” (Jonah 3:10). Repentance is important to God, and He responds in forgiveness the moment we repent.

The Ninevites put on sackcloth, sat in ashes, fasted, and prayed, so you may be thinking, “I know about fasting and prayer, but “Where do I get sackcloth and ashes?” No need to worry; you do not need them. This is how people approached repentance in those days. On the contrary, fasting and prayer are two approaches that are still relevant for this time. 2 Chronicles 7:14 explains, “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” Fasting and prayer are approaches to seeking God’s face, and if you remember, Cornelius prayed often and fasted. You may also be wondering, “If repentance does not take hours, days, weeks, months, or years, how will God know that I have repented?” The answer can be found in 1 Samuel 16:7, “…Forthe Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”