Seasons of Refreshing

I was reading through Acts 3 not too long ago and there was a phrase in there that struck a chord with me.  In verse 19, it says, "Therefore repent and turn back, that your sins may be wiped out so that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord."  I've probably heard or read that verse dozens of times, but this time, it pierced right through me.

In the past, I used to beat myself up quite a bit over any sin that I would commit.  I would be down on myself for an extended period of time (just ask my wife).  However, I began to realize that Satan was using my self-deprecation as a tactic to keep my focus away from what God wanted me to do.  I remember, a few years ago, Hester and I  read through a book called, "Deceived, Who Me?" by Craig Hill.  Here's how Hill summarizes the book, "Many times God's intentions for our lives are thwarted by the serpent in our own flesh raising up to deceive our mind, will and emotions, compelling us to walk in its ways and fulfill its plans."  Who among us hasn't fallen prey to this kind of attack?  I don't know about you, but I can think of numerous times when I've been attack in all 3 of those areas (mind, will and emotions).  How can I be on guard for this kind of attack...by not losing my focus.  I have to be intentional with how I live my life.  I have to prepare myself for the battle.  If I'm not armed with God's Word in my heart when I wake up to face the day, I'll be fighting an uphill battle, which I won't win very often (if at all).

Looking back at Acts 3:19...I love the phrase "season of refreshing."  What a beautiful picture that paints!  The process of renewal after repentance can be a hard one at times.  It's almost like you take baby steps forward or maybe it feels like 2 steps forward, but 1 step back.  However, it doesn't have to be this way.  This verse reminds me that the reason I take any step backward is because my focus is on the situation around me and not on the One who can see me through it.  It's very much like Peter when he begins to sink after walking on water!  He lost what his focal point was supposed to be, Jesus.  There's a praise and worship song called "Consuming Fire" written by Tim Hughes and some of the lyrics are very poignant in my battle against the adversary.  Here are the lyrics:

There must be more than this, O breath of God come breathe within
There must be more than this, Spirit of God we wait for You
Fill us anew we pray, fill us anew we pray


Consuming Fire fan into flame a passion for Your name
Spirit of God fall in this place, Lord have Your way, Lord have Your way with us


Come like a rushing wind, clothe us with power from on high
Now set the captives free, leave us abandoned to Your praise
Lord let Your glory fall, Lord let Your glory fall.

When I hear these lyrics, and I see the battle I'm in with my adversary, I realize that God wants me to understand something.  He is waiting on me to ask Him to come in (come like a rushing wind) and repair my heart (clothe us with power from on high) and free me (now set the captives free) from the chains that are binding me.  When He does free me, I can give Him all the glory (leave us abandoned to Your praise) for rescuing me. The best news that I can share is that I am not in this fight alone.  As a matter of fact, I know that outcome of every battle as long as I don't lose my focus.

So, when I read this verse, it makes me want to try to find everything in my life that I need to repent of.  Why you ask?  This verse tells me that not only will there be seasons of refreshing, but they come from the presence of the Lord, and who doesn't want to be in the presence of the Lord!