My wife, Emily, and I have something we’re really intentional about: forgiveness.

We’ve all had this experience:

You: “Sorry about that, I didn’t mean it, you know.” Them: “Yeah, it’s ok.” You: “Ok.”

Wait a second. That’s poor. There was no honesty, no humility, no full forgiveness, no love.

We all make mistakes and we know it. Own up to it. Otherwise, you walk away feeling like something is still hanging around like a nagging itch you can’t scratch.

Ours goes like this: Me: “I’m so sorry for (specifics), will you please forgive me?” Emily: “I forgive you, I love you.”

Now, this doesn’t mean she still isn’t hurt or that we don’t continue the discussion. We need the confession/repentance and then the offer of forgiveness and love and be willing to work through it.

This came to mind today when I read this verse: Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.

I love that word: refreshing.

It brings pictures to my mind: a hot shower and the clean feeling afterward, a cold drink on a summer’s day, a waterfall washing the rocks beneath to a beautiful shine, a crystal-clear mountain lake, purity, freedom, peace.

When we ask for forgiveness and we receive it from God, we know that He has removed our sins “as far as the East is from the West.” He doesn’t remove them from His memory, but He neither chooses to remember or dwell on them anymore. You are refreshed and clean and begin brand-new everyday.

Let’s live sharing that same refreshing forgiveness.