Repentance is the path to restoration — it is a process and not a point in time. True repentance is taking God’s side against ourselves and is always accompanied by a change in behaviour. One that is truly repentant has reached that place where they are ready to acknowledge the just nature of the consequences to their conduct. One that confesses merely to avoid consequences is not repentant. In Ezra’s prayer and in the subsequent actions of the people, we see these principles in practice. He recognized that Israel had received less than their iniquities deserved (Ezra 9:13). Ezra concludes his prayer with, “O Lord God of Israel, Thou art righteous: for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before Thee in our trespasses: for we cannot stand before Thee because of this” (Ezra 9:15).