Times of Refreshing!

I don't know about you, but just the title of this post makes me want to be refreshed! It was recently brought to my attention where that saying is in the Bible. Let's look at it:

"Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord..." Acts 3:19

This says that times of refreshing comes from the presence of the Lord. Back up though...that happens after repentance. Only God can point something out in our lives that we are doing wrong and not leave us with a feeling of guilt and shame. In fact, when He does it and we follow through with genuine repentance, we leave with a feeling of refreshing!

Another verse says that it is the kindness of God that leads us to repentance. (Romans 2:4) When God gives us that "nudge" and lets us know what we say or do (or don't do) is not right, we should feel sorrow--not just any kind of sorrow, but the kind that leads us to repentance. Some people are just sorry they got caught. That doesn't lead you anywhere except in a perpetual cycle of making the same stupid decisions.

The choice is ours. When God points those things out that we need to stop doing, we can either:
A. Repent and experience times of refreshing right now
OR
B. Remain stubborn and suffer the consequences now and forever.

"But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed." Romans 2:5

I urge you; pick A!