20th. August. 2022. Daily Devotions.
3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.’ And you forgave the guilt of my sin. Psalm 32:3-5
Psalm 32 describes the process of confession beautifully. It opens with these words: “Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.” And near the end it says that “the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.”
The psalmist admits that trying to keep his sin hidden, or secret, weighed heavily on him. The guilt of sin became such a great burden that it sapped his strength. Deep down, he knew he could not hide his sin from God, so he gave up trying. He confessed his sin, and he received forgiveness. What a relief! The weight of all that guilt was lifted.
Confession requires that we allow the light of the Spirit of God to penetrate our heart; identify ungodly thoughts, words, and actions; and turn them over to God. God is the one able to forgive, for Jesus’ sake—and he does.
Loving Father, thank you for sending your Son to pay the price for our sins. He not only accomplished that for us but also rose to life again, to give eternal life to all who trust in him. All glory be to God, our Saviour! Amen.
From the throne of your glory, O Lord, send forth your wisdom to live in our hearts, to be at work in our lives and to speak in our conscience; that our thoughts, words and actions may be according to your will and reveal your glory; through Christ our Lord. Amen. Aelred of Rievaulx (c.1109-1167)
God of the wild places and margins, give us the grace to honour those who are different.
God of the dispossessed and empty, give us humility to value in others the things we lack.
God of the spiritually poor and cynical, give us the self-awareness to avoid arrogance.
God of the aggressive and defensive, give us the courage and patience to love unconditionally
God of ourselves, give us the tenderness to see ourselves as you see us. Amen.
O God, you are the light of the minds that know you, the life of the souls that love you and the strength of the hearts that serve you. Help us to know you, that we may truly love you, so to love you, that we may fully serve you whom to serve is perfect freedom; through Jesus Christ our lord. Amen.
Rune of Hospitality
I saw a stranger today.
I put food for him
in the eating-place
And drink
in the drinking-place
And music
in the listening-place.
In the Holy name
of the Trinity
He blessed myself
and my family.
And the lark said in her warble
Often, often, often
Goes Christ
in the stranger’s guise.
O, oft and oft and oft,
Goes Christ
in the stranger’s guise. Amen.
May God the Father bless us; may Christ take care of us, and the Holy Spirit enlighten us, all the days of our life. Amen.