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

 Sins wiped away … times of refreshing:  

 

Acts 3:19

19 “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;

           

            We all get tired from time to time. We get bogged down in the cares of the world. If we’ve sinned and not repented of it, we feel even more weighed down. As it talks about in Hebrews 12:1, we need to “lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us”. When we repent, we come into His presence. In His presence is fullness of joy. We are refreshed. His joy washes over us, and our spirits dance in ecstasy.

 

If you could hear God speak, I believe this is what He would say:

            "Do not the things of the world weigh you down? Do not submit to them. They cannot bring peace and they cannot bring you happiness. You are not of the world. You are in it, but you have overcome the world because I have overcome the world. It cannot affect you because I am in you. Do not let it reign over you. You cannot have peace as long as you let the world rule over you. You have peace in Me and refreshing from My Spirit.”

           

            71. My sins have been wiped away. Times of refreshing are mine to be had.

But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

 Crucified to the world:  

 

Galatians 6:14

14 But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

 

            Through the cross of Jesus, I am dead to the world. It has no power over me. It has no lure to the spirit man inside me. Nothing can influence a dead person. I can’t change it, and it can’t change me … at least the real me. Of course I can let it influence me in this life. That’s the problem. We’re dead to the world, but we act like it’s still in control of us. It is, only if we let it. The real us is not persuaded by the enticement of the world system. It doesn’t tempt us. If we would only allow His Spirit to control us, we would have no trouble in this life following His commands.

 

If you could hear God speak, I believe this is what He would say:

            "My children, you are not of the world and the world has no power over you. Do not submit yourselves to the things and desires of the world. It cannot save you, and it cannot help you in time of need. It can only bring you down. It has no influence over you unless you let it. It is powerless against My Spirit. You have power over the things of the world as long as you submit to Me. Trust in Me to take care of you and you will have good success.”

 

            70. The world is crucified to me and I to the world. It no longer holds power over me.