Refreshment Through Repentance

Founders Note: Today on the blog we have are monthly contributor Courtney, she is sharing her heart on this month's theme Repentance. You can learn more about Courtney on are about page. 

Have you ever felt consumed by guilt? Is the weight of your sin pressing against you? You feel like you can't escape it. You feel like everywhere you turn you are confronted with your sin.

Have you ever felt like there was a brick wall between you and the Lord? You pray, but you just do not feel close to the Lord. You cry out, but there seems to be no answer.

I have been there. I have been crushed by the weight of my sin. I have cried out to the Lord, but felt no answer.

I have turned to Scripture and asked, "Why?!" What is happening?

Often, I am in this place because I have not repented.

Acts 3:19 says, "Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord."

The Lord graciously provides forgiveness when we repent. No matter how many times we sin and repent, the Lord forgives us.

I remember hearing the saying one time, "No matter how many steps you take away from the Lord, it is only one step back." This phrase captures a sliver of how incredible this is. We can instantly experience a restored relationship with the the Lord through repentance.

The Lord totally wipes away our guilt when we repent. The removal of guilt is so complete that He does not even remember it any more. No matter how unfaithful we are, God is faithful.

As it says in the passage 1 John 1:9,

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

We repent because we are called to as believers. We repent so that we can experience unhindered communion with the Lord. We repent so that we can be refreshed in Him.