Everyday Prayers for FaithSample

God Is Faithful to Forgive

My mind loves to remind me of all the times I fail, especially when my head hits the pillow at night. My world is finally still, and the silence gives way to a barrage of thoughts and memories. Here’s where you could have done better today. You messed up here… All I want is to sleep, but instead, my mind attacks.

There is a promise I hold on to as darkness threatens to close in, a promise I throw in the face of my past sin: God is faithful to forgive me.

The Greek word for sin literally means “to miss the mark.” I miss that mark daily…probably hourly. It does us no good to think we do not sin. It does not benefit us to say we walk in light when we truly walk in darkness. In fact, John tells us this hinders our fellowship with God and with one another. It threatens our joy.

God knows we are going to miss the mark. That’s why He sent Jesus. It is only by His blood that we can be cleansed or purified from our sin. This is such a big promise because He not only promises forgiveness, He promises to purify us of sin. The word purify means “to remove contaminants from.” It’s the idea of removing what is impure—the sin. His forgiveness means He no longer keeps our sin in our record. He disregards it.

God is the One who is faithful, just, and righteous. Only God, who is guiltless, is worthy and able to forgive. And He is faithful to do it.

The catalyst for this forgiveness is our confession. In Psalm 32, David gives such a perfect picture of what happens when we do not confess our sins. But 1 John beckons us to step out of the darkness of our sin and step into the light of fellowship with the Father.

Prayer

Father, thank You that I can come and confess my sin without fear. Your forgiveness is promised. Lord, I confess before You that I have missed the mark. Please forgive me. Help me walk in Your light. Teach me and guide me as I do. Let Your steadfast love surround me as I trust in You. I shout for joy that in Your forgiveness, I can experience fellowship with You.