Acts 3:19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.
Spurgeon reminds us that repentance and forgiveness are interdependent. Without repentance, forgiveness is but an abstract concept; without forgiveness, repentance becomes nothing but despair and pain. Only when we repent of our sins and turn to God can we truly experience the sweetness of forgiveness; and when we are certain of our forgiveness, we can deepen our journey of repentance. Repentance is not a one-time event but an ongoing renewal that allows us to continually return to God and experience the comfort of His love.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for granting repentance and the grace of forgiveness. Lord, I confess my weakness and sin, which often strayed from you. Please cleanse my heart. May I know your love in repentance and enjoy your peace in forgiveness. May I always turn to you, relying not on my own righteousness but solely on the precious blood of Christ. Please renew my life, enable me to walk in the light, and become a child of your joy. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.