19th. May. 2022. Daily Devotion.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Psalm 51:1-2;7;
When we are born again in Christ, God washes us. We become pure and free from sin, in the eyes of God. If we continue to carry around guilty, we see an opportunity to grow in our faith, for ultimately out guilty has become meaningless. Guilt is a thing of this world, and the better we internalize the Bible’s injunction, “do not conform to the things of the world”, the more our guilt must disappear. So, search your heart to see if you are carrying guilt or anxiety, and if so, ask God to wash it away.
And then, “wash, rinse, repeat,” as the saying goes. Keep at it — it is God’s will that you do not feel guilty or anxious. Grow in Christ and this is a blessing that will come to you right here and now. M. Barge
Lord God, forgive me for my sins and teach me not to repeat them; and let me have faith enough not to feel guilty about them. Amen.
Prayer of Praise
Great You are, O lord, and greatly to be praised; great is Your power, and Your wisdom is infinite. You would we praise without ceasing. You call us to delight in Your praise, for You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts find not rest until we rest in You; to whom with the Father and the Holy Spirit all glory, praise, and honour be ascribed, both now and forevermore. Amen. Augustine of Hippo, ca. 400 A.D.
Grant us grace, O God, to be interpreters of your beauty, narrators of your glory, confessors of your purpose, preachers of your mind and teachers of your works; through Christ our Lord. Amen. Odes of Solomon (1st century)
Jesus, guest, and host may our tables be safe spaces where everyone feels at home. Jesus, friend, and brother, help us to practise the hospitality we teach. Jesus, who washed the feet of the disciples, teach us afresh the sacrament of service. Jesus, generous giver, show us the abundance of love where we see only scarcity. Jesus, in whose name is found salvation, help us rejoice in the kingdom banquet prepared for all. Jesus, you prayed that we might be one,
just as you and the Father are one, we pray for the unity of your Church, of all communities, of all creation and of all things in you. Amen.
We pray justice for the falsely accused, freedom for the wrongly imprisoned,
healing for the tortured or abused, care for the orphan and widow, concern for the refugee and dispossessed, and above all forgiveness, for our emotional detachment. May we weep as you weep, love as you love, and not be afraid to be angry for the sake of your children, wherever they might be. Amen. John Birch
Meditation
“Never dwell on the tomorrow; remember, that it is God’s and not ours.” ~ E. B. Pusey