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 NKJV)

How’s your prayer life? If most of us were honest we’d say it’s probably pretty lousy. One of the scriptures that can help us increase of our level of prayer is Acts 3:19 verse. So let’s break it down by reversing the verse.

(1) Times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.
Could you use a little refreshing today? If you’re like me, you are probably craving it. But God’s refreshing only comes one way-- by being in God’s presence.

No matter where we are, no matter what we are doing, we can live in the reality that God is with us and his presence surrounds us. But it’s not automatic, if we’re going to experience a holy God, than we need to acknowledge that something needs to be done with the sin in our lives.

(2) That your sins may be blotted out.
The Good News of the Gospel is that Jesus Christ came to this earth to redeem us from sin. He paid a price that we couldn’t pay and He was the only one who could do it. He’s the only one who ever lived a sinless life, and because of that He is the only ONE who was qualified to be our substitute. His death opened the door to blot out the stain of sin in our lives. But again, although it’s available to everyone, it’s not automatic. There is something we need to to.

(3) Repent therefore and be converted.
At it’s core, the word repent can be defined as heading in one direction under your own strength and turning around to head 180 degrees in the other direction under the strength of another. When we repent from our sinful ways we’re just choosing to turn from our ways and our own strength, and follow God in His strength. Now, that’s what I call being converted.

So today, take a little time and get your heart clear with the Lord. Repent from those things that are keeping you away from having a close relationship with God. Because if you do, He will blot out those sins, and bring you a rich time of refreshing.

Say It: Father, I confess my sins to You and thank You that You have removed them from my life as far as the east is from the west. I repent from trying to do life in my own strength and I’m turning around to follow after You, in Your strength from now on. I’m thanking You in advance, by faith, that I will experience times of refreshing that come from being in Your presence. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!