What does it mean to repent?

David Eddy explains in this video that the Greek word for repentance is “to change your mind.” When you use the word, “repentance,” this is not about merely changing your mind about basic, everyday decisions but it refers to your relationship with God.

Repentance is a realization that you are sinful. It also involves a subsequent change of mind so that it is in agreement with God. A repentant person does not continue to sin but they turn to God and His ways. They desire after the things of God.    

Acts 3:19 (NKJV) – “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” 

The Greek word metanoia is to change your mind. I think that has a key to the idea, but obviously when you use the word repentance, we're talking not just about changing your mind, like I want to go to this restaurant, and then you're like, you know, I changed my mind, I'm gonna go somewhere else. It's talking about your relationship with God, as we use it as a technical term in Christianity. And so I define repentance as changing your mind so that it agrees with God. And I guess a fuller definition would be realizing you're wrong and changing your mind so that you agree with God, because I think that's a key aspect of repentance.