Are you in need of some spiritual refreshment? Gosh, who isn’t these days.
Would you be interested in knowing the formula to make that happen? Ok, here it is…
Confessing your sins + Repenting = Spiritual RefreshmentWhen you confess, you are admitting to having done something wrong. When you repent, you are feeling regret about a sin or past actions and changing your ways or habits.
Not as easy as it sounds… but when we do this God promises spiritual refreshment.
Let me clear this up first. If you are a Christ-follower… if you have accepted Jesus into your heart and life as your personal savior… your salvation is secure. Confession and repentance do not affect your eternal destiny either way. You are His child. Stop believing the lies of the Evil One with regard to that.
Here’s the clincher, though. When I have unconfessed sin or when I choose to hold on to a sin, refusing to turn from it… my relationship with God is hindered. Let me give you an earthly example…
My husband is an only child. Together, we have the only grandchildren… and his parents want nothing to do with us.
Why?
They refuse to recognize their responsibility (their sin) in the destruction of the relationship. As a matter of fact, it will be 7 years this Christmas since we’ve seen them or talked to them… and they live 20 minutes from us.
Yes. They are still Wayne’s parents. That will never change. But because they refuse to admit they are part of the problem… our relationship with them is hindered.
See how that works?
If they were to turn away from (repent) their stubbornness and pride and come to us with the right heart… asking for forgiveness for the very hurtful things they have done (confess)… the relationship would be made right.
It’s sad, really. While we no longer hold any anger, it is difficult to know they live without any interaction from their child and grandchildren. It just makes no sense to us.
They won’t turn from their comfortable (yet destructive) ways… even to have a relationship with us.
For our relationship with God to grow, that’s something we have to do. We must confess and then turn away from our sinful activities and follow Him instead.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you – even Jesus.” Acts 3:19-20
Don’t allow your rebelliousness, pride, busyness, or stubbornness keep you from experiencing the spiritual refreshment that can only come from an unhindered relationship with God.
Maybe it’s time to get on your knees….
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