Have pity on me, O Elohim [O God], in keeping with your mercy.
In keeping with your unlimited compassion, wipe out my rebellious acts.
Psalm 51:1 Names of God Bible
Verses 2-9, Wash me thoroughly from my guilt, and cleanse me from my sin. I admit that I am rebellious. My sin is always in front of me. I have sinned against you, especially you. I have done what you consider evil. So you hand down justice when you speak, and you are blameless when you judge.
Indeed, I was born guilty. I was a sinner when my mother conceived me. Yet, you desire truth and sincerity. Deep down inside me you teach me wisdom. Purify me from sin with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear sounds of joy and gladness. Let the bones that you have broken dance. Hide your face from my sins, and wipe out all that I have done wrong.
Prayer: (verses 10-12)
Father,
Create a clean heart in me, O God, and renew a faithful spirit within me. Do not force me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore the joy of Your salvation to me, and provide me with a spirit of willing obedience. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Showing posts with label Repentance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Repentance. Show all posts
Thursday, September 7, 2023
Wednesday, March 29, 2023
From Now Until Easter - The Three Rs of Easter
From Ash Wednesday until Easter, I will post from Lent and Easter devotionals offered online. Today's post features excerpts gathered and written by Danielle Ayers Jones, who has been a contributing writer for the online magazine, Ungrind, and has written for Thriving Family, Clubhouse, Jr., Radiant, and Relevant.
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As a family, we’ve looked for ways to celebrate Jesus’ death and resurrection in tangible, hands-on ways. To prepare our hearts during the busy organizing of Easter baskets and planning of a Sunday dinner. Ways that build up to Easter morning, so that we have a clear idea as to why we celebrate. And it all starts with remembering.
Remembrance
In the week or two leading up to Easter, we trace the story from Genesis to the New Testament by reading portions of scripture and hanging ornaments on the dogwood branches... With each ornament, we remember our need to be rescued and that Jesus was the one who came to save us.
Like Communion, Easter is a time of remembrance. It instigates reflection. “Do this in remembrance of me,” Jesus said in 1 Corinthians 11:24. Just like pausing in a service to drink the cup and eat the bread, I’m pausing during my year to focus specifically on Jesus and His sacrifice.
Repentance
One of the things we remember is our need for repentance. Even though I’ve placed my trust in Christ’s work and am secure in His grasp, it is good for me to remember the why behind the whole narrative arc of scripture. I needed forgiveness and there was nothing I could do to accomplish it. The Bible uses the metaphor of “dead in sin” to describe my condition. And so, Jesus was sent on a rescue mission. A mission to bring me back to life.
Resurrection
As Easter nears, the dogwood branches are no longer bare. They are filled with ornaments. Resurrection morning will soon dawn and there will be a time of celebration. For Easter represents the reality that though “in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive” 1 Corinthians 15:22. The last enemy to be destroyed is death and Jesus has done just that.
“Jesus came and departed. But his resurrection means that everything in God’s kingdom is alive; in every moment something is happening,” writes Christopher Friedrich Blumhardt in Watch for the Light.
God is still working. He is resurrecting hearts that were once dead to Him. He is bringing them back to life, both for today and the eternal life to come.
Prayer:
In the week or two leading up to Easter, we trace the story from Genesis to the New Testament by reading portions of scripture and hanging ornaments on the dogwood branches... With each ornament, we remember our need to be rescued and that Jesus was the one who came to save us.
Like Communion, Easter is a time of remembrance. It instigates reflection. “Do this in remembrance of me,” Jesus said in 1 Corinthians 11:24. Just like pausing in a service to drink the cup and eat the bread, I’m pausing during my year to focus specifically on Jesus and His sacrifice.
Repentance
One of the things we remember is our need for repentance. Even though I’ve placed my trust in Christ’s work and am secure in His grasp, it is good for me to remember the why behind the whole narrative arc of scripture. I needed forgiveness and there was nothing I could do to accomplish it. The Bible uses the metaphor of “dead in sin” to describe my condition. And so, Jesus was sent on a rescue mission. A mission to bring me back to life.
Resurrection
As Easter nears, the dogwood branches are no longer bare. They are filled with ornaments. Resurrection morning will soon dawn and there will be a time of celebration. For Easter represents the reality that though “in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive” 1 Corinthians 15:22. The last enemy to be destroyed is death and Jesus has done just that.
“Jesus came and departed. But his resurrection means that everything in God’s kingdom is alive; in every moment something is happening,” writes Christopher Friedrich Blumhardt in Watch for the Light.
God is still working. He is resurrecting hearts that were once dead to Him. He is bringing them back to life, both for today and the eternal life to come.
Prayer:
Jesus,
Thank You for going on a rescue mission to save me. Thank You for bringing me back to life so sin and death are not the end of my story. In this season, I am so reminded of my need for You. Thank You, Jesus. Amen
Sunday, December 30, 2018
Complete Sentences
Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.
1st John 2:6 NLT
You may not have noticed, our Promise for Today is a complete sentence. There are no qualifying phrases such as, "unless they are provoked"; or "if they're not tired"; or "if they want to or feel like it".
Are we living our lives as Jesus did? Direct, immediate obedience to God? No murmuring, no complaining, no arguing with God about circumstances or anything? If not, we must repent.
Repentance is sincere regret or remorse. It's a turning away from. It's hating ANYTHING that separates us from God. 2nd Corinthians 7:10 NLT tells us, For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. True repentance frees us from sin, enabling us to live as Jesus did. Complete.
1st John 2:6 NLT
You may not have noticed, our Promise for Today is a complete sentence. There are no qualifying phrases such as, "unless they are provoked"; or "if they're not tired"; or "if they want to or feel like it".
Are we living our lives as Jesus did? Direct, immediate obedience to God? No murmuring, no complaining, no arguing with God about circumstances or anything? If not, we must repent.
Repentance is sincere regret or remorse. It's a turning away from. It's hating ANYTHING that separates us from God. 2nd Corinthians 7:10 NLT tells us, For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. True repentance frees us from sin, enabling us to live as Jesus did. Complete.
Prayer:
Father,
Turn our hearts toward Your way and Your will, Father. Help us to live as Jesus did. Holy and acceptable unto You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
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