Over the years, I have been privileged to be part of several prayer movements which all have shared a central emphasis on prayers of repentance.

However, there is a time when saying sorry and praying for forgiveness is not enough in and off itself.

Leviticus 5:5-7 speaks of not only confessing one’s sins, but making restitution- paying back to the wounded person above and beyond what they lost.

I recently was led to buy an expensive present for someone, and as I reflected on the gift, I came to realise that it represented this kind of restitution. This practical action and gift represented me not only “saying sorry” for the hurt I had caused, but also seeking to restore what was lost.

In our modern Christian world, saying sorry can become a cheap “get out of jail free” card. However the Biblical process of restitution moves beyond simply acknowledging guilt, to seeking to repair the damage done.

This concept is seen in the Hebrew word “shalom”, often translated peace. While we tend to think of peace as being the absence of conflict, the Hebraic concept of peace involves having nothing missing or lacking. And as long as you have something of mine, or it is broken or lost, true peace is not there in its fullest sense.

Therefore in Hebrew, to pay a bill is to “meshalem” someone (from the word shalom). In other words, when the repayment is done, when the item is brought back or replaced; then “shalom” is restored.

The Bible tells us to live, where at all possible “at peace with all men” (Rom. 12:18). As we pursue being men and women of this peace, we will all face times when our apologies need to move beyond words to also practical restitution.

As Christians across our nation gather to pray prayers of repentance, may we also be moved to take practical steps towards full healing and restoration with those we may have offended or hurt.

And as our apologies turn into action, may the full blessing of “shalom” be restored not only between us but also in our nation.