Gifts from Jesus

Have you ever noticed that repentance is a gift? Until about three years ago I had never looked at it that way. I was raised in a loving Christian home but it was about striving to be perfect much of the time. To repent meant a lecture. Here is what I read yesterday in Psalm 32:1-7 that demonstrates the gift of repentance.
(for the purpose of easy reading and comprehension I am using The Message version)
Count yourself lucky, how happy you must be - you get a fresh start, your slate's wiped clean.
Count yourself lucky - God holds nothing against you and you're holding nothing back from him.
When I kept it all inside, my bones turned to powder, my words became daylong groans.
The pressure never let up; all the juices of my life dried up.
The I let it all out; I said, "I'll make a clean breast of my failures to God." Suddenly the pressure was gone - my guilt dissolved my sin disappeared.
These things add up. Every one of us needs to pray; when all hell breaks loose and the dam bursts we'll be on high ground, untouched. God's my island hideaway (the sound and thought of that makes me sigh and let stress go doesn't it do that for you? think of this God is your island hideaway - get away!) keeps danger far from the shore, throws garlands of hosannas around my neck.
You see when we look at repentance as a gift we are relieved of all the stress that sin causes and Poof are on a beautiful, relaxing spiritual oasis! *sigh*
So take a deep breath, know that you are forgiven and now get to start a clean, new white board to give Him glory in all you do.
Ps. 32:11 " Celebrate God. Sing together - everyone! All you honest heart, raise the roof!