"Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus..." - Acts 3:19-20
Repentance and Refreshment.
It is my experience that these two things rarely come together. Repentance, always seems like something that results in more exhaustion and work. Because, from my normal experience, repentance means more effort, and more work toward training myself and fighting my tendency toward whatever sin has entangled me at the time.
But this is not what Jesus is after. He is not after a deeper work ethic toward our sin, he is after our hearts, he is after us. Freedom comes from a renewed heart that no longer desires the sin, not from a strong discipline to resist the sin. When we rest on our own ability to abstain from sin, we will endlessly work and fight for freedom, no wonder it drains us instead of bringing refreshment. It is only through Jesus that we will experience refreshment, it is Jesus that restores us, it is Jesus that renovates our hearts.
My prayer is that I continually find rest in Jesus, and not my own effort. That my hope would be found in the God who offers renewal, and not in my own power. Knowing that my own effort will only result in exhaustion as I seek my own refreshment, but rather may I come to rest in the finished work of Christ on the cross for me. Instead, may I redirect that effort in pursuit of Jesus, who, every morning renews his mercy.
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in him.'" - Lamentations 3:23-24