Tag Archives: forgiveness

Walking Wisely

This verse is David’s earnest plea for God’s guidance. He wants every step he takes to be led by God’s Word. He is asking God to shield him from any and all kinds of sin.

Like David, is it your greatest desire to be in total harmony with God’s Word? I hope so and I hope these 3 steps will help you on that journey.

Step 1: Reflect on your own path. Are you following the path He has planned for you?

Step 2: Surrender completely and trust totally that He knows what He’s doing. Invite Him, whose wisdom surpasses all understanding to guide you in all you think, say, and do. (Philippians 4:7)

Step 3: In this battle against temptation and sin, we need to take up David’s battle cry, “Let no sin rule over me!” The victory is ours!

Take a moment now to meditate and pray. Allow the wisdom of Psalm 119:133 to permeate your soul. Let it guide and strengthen your resolve to walk single-mindedly in God’s Word and ways.

Sunday Psalms 7

Psalm 7

LORD, protect me! I will hide in You from those who want to harm me, then, I will not be alone in this battle.

LORD, forgive me! If I have caused this or done something wrong ~~ Forgive me!

If I have harmed a friend or taken what is not mine mine ~~ Forgive me!

If I have done any of this then let the enemy win.

LORD, fight for me!

You are my judge and my shield. You save those whose heart is fully attached to Yours. Guide all of my ways, all of my days. Save my soul!

I have repented of my sins unlike those who refuse to think they have done anything wrong. You fight against those who are evil, wicked, unrepentant, and those who lie. They will fall into their own pit.

Your righteousness demands my thanks! I will praise Your name!

Sunday Psalms are the Psalms in my own words.  You can click on the Psalm number at the top to read it from the English Standard Version.

Forever Forgiving

How often must I forgive?

Do you find yourself asking forgiveness for the same thing over and over? Do you find yourself forgiving the same thing in someone else over and over? That’s actually what this verse is about.

Peter asked Jesus how many times he had to forgive his brother and Jesus replied, “I tell you not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Jesus was saying forgiveness is not a one-time thing. He wants us to forgive as many times as it takes.

We are to forgive just as God did and does. Over and over again!

Abba, Father, remind me of Your kind of forgiveness every time I’m tempted to be unforgiving. Give me a kind, compassionate, forgiving heart.

Sufficient Grace

What is grace?

The very best way to answer this question is to search the Word. In doing that I found there is more to grace than the standard answer of ‘undeserved favor’.

Paul, the Apostle of Grace, uses the word 86 of the 131 times it’s used in the ESV of the Bible. It is used more than the word forgiveness. (109 times in the ESV.) To me that says it’s really an important concept.

As for underserved favor, it is certainly that. It is basically a free gift, from God, that we did nothing to deserve. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:15 NLT

There is another part of grace that we don’t always think about. Grace is God’s power to change our ability to live an obedient life. Paul explains it really well in 2 Corinthians 9:8 – And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. This aspect of grace is not only about treating people better than they deserve (Yes, we’re supposed to do that, too.). It’s about the ability to accept practical help, from God, when we need it, to use for the purpose He has for our lives.

Think about His love, think about His goodness, think about His grace, that’s brought us through. (Click on the blue letters to link to Don Moen’s beautiful song.)

Abba, Merciful, Wonderful Savior, thank You for the gift of grace. Show us where You want us to do the work You have planned for us. Send us out to share Your undeserved favor.

Do-overs

God, in His great mercy, gives us a second chance, a third chance, a fourth chance, and more…

God is always willing to let us try again. God not only forgives He gives the opportunity to try again.

David and Paul and Moses were murderers…

Noah and Lot were drunks…

Rahab and Tamar were prostitutes…

Jonah was disobedient, hesitant, reluctant, and fearful…

Naomi and Martha were whiners…

All of them were forgiven, given mercy. They were allowed to try again.

David asked for forgiveness (Psalm 51) and our merciful God said, I can still use you!

Rahab did what she promised and God not only saved her and her family, at the fall of Jericho, but gave her a place in the lineage of Christ. (Joshua 2 and 6)

Jonah was so afraid to do what God had told him to do that he went the opposite direction and was swallowed by a whale. He single-handedly saved the people of an entire city! (Jonah)

Jesus told Martha to quit whining and follow the example of her sister Mary. (Luke 10:38-42)

And that’s just a few of the do-overs in God’s word. He still gives His forgiveness, mercy, and grace. He knows we’re not perfect. We often miss the mark. But He forgives and forgives and lets us start over and over and over…

What a Mighty God we serve!