Weight relief
Oh, what joy for those who disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put of out sight! Yes, what joy for those whose…lives are lived in complete honesty! — Psalm 32:1-2
I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it firsthand. One of my little cherubs hauled off and slapped another one of my little cherubs right across the face. Ouch! Wrong! Bad! Yes, the slap was wrong. But the double zinger is that the cherub who got wacked, while not always a saint, did not provoke the assault in any way, shape or form.
We live in a house where we sin. You do, too. If you haven’t literally slapped anyone in a long awhile (amen (and please continue your peace keeping efforts)), you are still a part of our gang here. How so? In one way, shape, or form walloped on someone close to you in word, thought or deed.
This is why the confession the psalmist David writes of is vital. The first step to seeking forgiveness is owning up to the wrongdoing — your wrongdoing. When we confess knowing God will hear us and respond, we experience weight relief.
Sometimes our wrongs are slap-in-the-face obvious. Sometimes our wrongs are more subtle, even (or especially) to ourselves. But put your sins out of sight. Use this time of Lent to reflect on and pray over your sins and joy will be yours.
PRAYER: Lord, help me have more conversations with You about my sins. Help me face who I am and what I’ve done with complete honesty so that yes, You experience me as You created me (and I experience me how You created me) with joy. Amen.
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