Have mercy on me, O Lord, because Your love is unfailing and Your compassion causes You to want to forgive my sins. By Your stripes I’ve been healed and with Your blood the stains from my sins have been washed away. My sorrow is real because I realize that what I’ve done is evil and has pierced Your heart. Through my true repentance, Your mercy is free to abound toward me and a pathway has been made for me to spend eternity with You. It is consoling to know that no sin I commit is too great for You to forgive. I understand that even though You forgive me there are natural consequences that result from my actions which I must bear. I recognize that while my sins may have been committed against others, it offends You because it is an act of rebellion against Your will. When I am tempted to do wrong, I must never forget that what I am doing is sinning against You.
Through Your mercy, I’ve been cleansed from my sins and made ready for service to You and others. In my redemption, I’ve been given a new heart and an overwhelming desire to do what is right. Through Your mercy, my joy has been restored and I am compelled into service for You. With a willing spirit, You will use me to teach the unsaved Your ways and encourage them to submit to You. You have said that You do not delight in sacrifices, or I would have brought them to You as my offering. The sacrifice that You are looking for is a broken spirit and a contrite heart. Help me, O Lord, to shun my natural inclinations to please myself rather than You. Through Your mercy, You are changing my behaviors and replacing them with new thoughts and desires. Righteous living can only come about through a clean heart and renewed spirit.
I know that my sins drive a wedge between us … making You seem distant. Your desire is for me to remain close to You and experience a full and complete life. However, when my sins go without being confessed and repentance is lacking, an intimate relationship is impossible. An unrestrained confession and true repentance brings forgiveness and a fresh start. I must not be afraid to bear my heart to You and be willing to see the grievousness of what I have done. When I am granted forgiveness and our relationship is restored, my reaction should be to reach out to others and bring them to be reconciled with You. The more I experience Your forgiveness, the more I want to share You with others. When I am truly repentant and genuinely want to stop sinning, I am expressing my humility and You are then able to show me mercy. And it’s in Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN!!
Psalm 30:10 Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me; O Lord, be my help.