Repentance Brings Refreshing
Acts 3:19 (NIV)
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.
Repentance is not a word most people get excited about. Too often we hear it and think of shame, guilt, or judgment. But in Scripture, repentance is not about punishment — it’s about renewal. To repent literally means “to change your mind.” It’s the decision to stop heading one direction and turn back toward God. And when we do, He doesn’t meet us with condemnation; He meets us with refreshing.
For the Ephesians, repentance was the second step in restoring their first love. They needed to remember where they had fallen from, but then they had to make a choice — to change their mind and their direction. Repentance clears out the sin, bitterness, and offense that suffocate our love for Christ. It’s like opening a window in a stale room: fresh air rushes in. When we repent, God wipes away the weight of our sin and breathes new life into our souls.
This is why repentance is such a gift. It’s not God scolding us; it’s God inviting us back. It’s not a burden; it’s a blessing. The enemy wants us to think we’re too far gone, that we’ve messed up too many times, or that God is tired of forgiving us. But the truth is that repentance restores intimacy. The moment we turn, God runs to meet us, just like the father ran to the prodigal son.
If your heart feels cold, if your love has grown dim, repentance is the doorway back to passion. Don’t resist it — embrace it. Because on the other side of repentance is refreshing.
Prayer:
Father, I thank You for the gift of repentance. Forgive me for the places where my heart has grown cold and my devotion has faded. I turn back to You today with an open heart. Wash me, renew me, and refresh me with Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.
Repentance is not a word most people get excited about. Too often we hear it and think of shame, guilt, or judgment. But in Scripture, repentance is not about punishment — it’s about renewal. To repent literally means “to change your mind.” It’s the decision to stop heading one direction and turn back toward God. And when we do, He doesn’t meet us with condemnation; He meets us with refreshing.
For the Ephesians, repentance was the second step in restoring their first love. They needed to remember where they had fallen from, but then they had to make a choice — to change their mind and their direction. Repentance clears out the sin, bitterness, and offense that suffocate our love for Christ. It’s like opening a window in a stale room: fresh air rushes in. When we repent, God wipes away the weight of our sin and breathes new life into our souls.
This is why repentance is such a gift. It’s not God scolding us; it’s God inviting us back. It’s not a burden; it’s a blessing. The enemy wants us to think we’re too far gone, that we’ve messed up too many times, or that God is tired of forgiving us. But the truth is that repentance restores intimacy. The moment we turn, God runs to meet us, just like the father ran to the prodigal son.
If your heart feels cold, if your love has grown dim, repentance is the doorway back to passion. Don’t resist it — embrace it. Because on the other side of repentance is refreshing.
Prayer:
Father, I thank You for the gift of repentance. Forgive me for the places where my heart has grown cold and my devotion has faded. I turn back to You today with an open heart. Wash me, renew me, and refresh me with Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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