The first R is Recognition. You must first come to the point where you recognize that something is terribly wrong in your life and that it is beyond your control. This serves as a severe emotional event and often is a permanent awakening. This is an event that your conscience can no longer delay, a real-time event that you have no control over. Although this event is not always the moment that begins the repentance process, it is usually the point at which you are shaken to your core, and thus, you are never able to shake the reality of your true condition.
Psalms 51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
Psalms 73:21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was vexed in my mind.
The second R is Realization. After recognition has a foundation within you, you must come to the point of accepting your own responsibility in the events and circumstances of your life. You must have a spiritual touch or awakening. While this process is coming to fruition, you begin to realize that you must have a change in direction. This process is usually marked by several periods of self-assurance of making changes by your own will and power. While these periods are marked by failure, they serve to humble you. When this process grows into maturity, you stop blame shifting and begin to move to repentance. (Psalms 38:4, 8)
Psalms 32:5 I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
The third R is Repentance. You have already looked at the difference between regret and repentance. After the process of recognition and realization has developed, matured, and had time to begin bearing fruit in your life, God mercifully grants you a spirit of repentance. You can then turn from your wicked ways.
(2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalms 32:5; 34:18; 51:17; 2 Timothy 2:25-26)
Joel 2:13 So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm.
The fourth R is Receive. Usually this R causes you the most discomfort because of your pride. You have to grow in this process also. Once the first three principles are firmly established, you then must learn to trust the LORD in His unfailing forgiveness and receive it. You learn how deep, how wide, how long, and how high His forgiveness is for you. When you begin to allow His forgiveness to cascade over you and to wash you clean, spotless, and blemish free, you are then able to begin the process of resting in His presence. (Proverbs 2; Proverbs 8:10-11; 10:8; Psalms 78:38-39; 103:12; Isaiah 38:17)
Proverbs 19:20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days.
The fifth R is Rest. After receiving the ability to do the first four principles, you are now empowered to trust in God’s love for you. You are given a peace that surpasses your understanding and an ability to be still. This trust gives you the ability to receive and rest in the provision that love manifests. Because of the time it took to build this foundation, you are reassured of God’s continual faithfulness towards you. You are now able to look back and see the faithfulness of God in His provision for you as you have come through every trial and temptation that you have faced and conquered through Him. (Psalms 46:10; Isaiah 26:3; Philippians 4:6-7)
Hebrews 4:9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.
The sixth and final R is Restitution. After the maturity and fulfillment of the previous five layers of the foundation of righteousness have been established, the fruit and manifestation of these truths are seen and observed by the actions of restitution. Restitution is the final act of repentance and contrition and is the fruit born out of a truly repentant heart.
Restitution and The Old Covenant: Leviticus 6:2-5, “If a person sins and commits a trespass against the LORD by lying to his neighbor about what was delivered to him for safekeeping, or about a pledge, or about a robbery, or if he has extorted from his neighbor, or if he has found what was lost and lies concerning it, and swears falsely—in any one of these things that a man may do in which he sins: then it shall be, because he has sinned and is guilty, that he shall restore what he has stolen, or the thing which he has extorted, or what was delivered to him for safekeeping, or the lost thing which he found, or all that about which he has sworn falsely. He shall restore its full value, add one-fifth more to it, and give it to whomever it belongs, on the day of his trespass offering.” (Proverbs 6:30-31; Ezekiel 33:14-15)
Restitution—The New Covenant: Read Luke 19:1-10.