Repentance

What is repentance?  I have generally thought of repentance more as getting on the right path, a change of mind and heart, a seeing the truth and pursuing it, than as a grief over past sin.  Perhaps these are two sides of the same coin.  
I recently read a blog post by Misty at Simply Convivial.  Here are two excerpts from her post on Repentance:   “True education is a form of repentance. It is a humble admission that we’ve not read all that we need to read, we don’t know all that we need to know, and we’ve not yet become all that we are called to become. Education is that unique form of discipleship that brings us to the place of admitting our inadequacies.” – George Grant, and Misty's words, "Repentance is bravely and faithfully changing our attitudes, changing our perspective, changing our actions, whenever we are made aware that they are not aligned with God’s Word, His revealed will. It is hard, but it is life-giving." and this:
"These children and their problems are given to sanctify us. Let us embrace this life of repentance.  Let us bravely face our inadequacies, faithfully following the path before us, trusting God and not our efforts for the increase. God can feed 5,000 with 5 loaves, and He can take our dismal efforts to obey and transform us, others, and the world through them."  

I finally had some quiet time to pursue the Biblical meaning of the word Repentance this morning.  I started with Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words. (excerpts follow).
 As a verb it is the word METANOEO which means literally to perceive afterwards (meta, after, implying change, noeo, to perceive; nous, the mind, the seat of moral reflection, in contrast to pronoeo, to perceive beforehand, hence signifies to change one's mind or purpose, always, in the N.T., involving change for the better, an amendment, and always, except in Luke 17:3,4, of repentance from sin. 
The second verb is METALOMAI, meta, as in the first word means change, and melo, to care for signifying to regret, to repent oneself.  
The noun METANOIA, means after-thought, change of mind, repentance.  It corresponds to the first verb above.  It is used of repentance from sin or evil, except in Heb. 12:17, where the word "repentance" seems to mean, not simply a change of Isaac's mind, but such a change as would reverse the effects of his own previous state of mind.  Esau's birthright-bargain could not be recalled, it involved an irretrievable loss.  
"As regards repentance from sin,(a) the requirement by God on man's part is set forth, e.g., in Matt. 3:8; Luke 3:8, Acts 20:21; 26:20; (b) The mercy of God in giving repentance or leading men to it is set forth, e.g., in Acts 5:31; 11:18; Rom. 2:4; 2 Tim. 2:25.
In the N.T. the subject chiefly has reference to repentance from sin, and this change of mind involves both a turning from sin and a turning to God.  The parable of the prodigal son is an outstanding illustration of this.  Christ began His ministry with a call to repentance, Matt. 4:17, but the call is addressed, not as in the O.T. to the nation, but to the individual.  In the Gospel of John, as distinct from the Synoptic Gospels, referred to above, repentance is not mentioned, even in connection with John the Baptist's preaching; in John's Gospel and 1st Epistle the effects are stressed, e3.g., in the new birth, and generally in the active turning from sin to God by the exercise of faith...."

New Unger's Bible Dictionary includes the following:
 " In the theological and ethical sense a fundamental and thorough change in the hearts of men from sin and toward God.  Although faith alone is the condition for salvation, repentance is bound up with faith and inseparable from it, since without some measure of faith no one can truly repent, and repentance never attains to its deepest character till the sinner realizes through saving faith how great is the grace of God against whom he has sinned.  On the other hand, there can be no saving faith withhout true repentance.  Repentance contains as essential elements (1) a genuine sorrow toward God on account of sin; (2) an inward repugnance to sin necessarily followed by the actual forsaking iof it; and (3) humble self- surrender to the will and service of God....

"Repentance, it is thus to be seen, is the gift of God.  It is so because God has given His word with its revelations concerning sin and salvation; also the Holy Spirit to impress the truth and awaken the consciences of men and lead them to repentance.  But as with faith so with repentance--it is left with men to make for themselves the great decision.  

So it appears that indeed both sides of the coin are implied in the Biblical meaning of the word repentance.  

The current application in my life is coming through reading Larry Crabb's, Men and Women Enjoying the Difference, which spends the first half of the book explaining how our self-centered natures are sinful and we need to repent and ask God to change us.  I first saw this flaw in myself almost 30 years ago when I realized that even the good I did was because it made me feel good and was saddened by it, but felt that it was only God who could rise above such motivation.  This is in part true, my nature is fallen and by myself, I am unable to rise about my selfish nature and self-centered focus.  But, I now see that if I ask God to change me, and yield to His Spirit's work in me, change is not only desirable but possible! So as I asked God to give me love for our prodigal daughter, I am now asking God to love my husband and others through me. Looking to Him for the removal of my natural self-serving goals and His supernatural love flowing through me.  

So again to repeat Misty's words from above: "Repentance is bravely and faithfully changing our attitudes, changing our perspective, changing our actions, whenever we are made aware that they are not aligned with God’s Word, His revealed will. It is hard, but it is life-giving."  
and from the New Unger's Bible Dictionary: "But as with faith so with repentance--it is left with men to make for themselves the great decision."