1st Friday of Lent (March 6) “You forgave the guilt of my sin”

Prepare to Listen.  In humility, offer this prayer: Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
 
Prayerfully Read Psalm 32:1-5
Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.  2Happy are those to whom the LORD imputes no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.  3While I kept silence, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long.  4For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.  5Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD’, and you forgave the guilt of my sin.
 
Prayerfully Wonder
The psalmist has experienced the grace of forgiveness.  Unconfessed sin had become a weight, as though God’s hand were heavy upon him.  The feeling of such a weight isn’t pleasant (to put it mildly) but it led this pray-er to wake up and acknowledge his sin.  You’ll notice the psalmist spoke to himself, instructing himself about what to do with his sin.  We can only imagine the relief he felt as he wrote and prayed, “and you forgave the guilt of my sin.”
 
Prayerfully Reflect
Talk to yourself!  Tell yourself what you need to do about your sin that’s weighing you down.
 
Respond to Jesus
You, Oh Lord, forgive, not just the sin, but the guilt that goes with it.  Give me, I pray, the courage to name my sin and the willingness to receive your grace and live freely and joyfully today.  Amen.
 
Go live obediently in the world assured of forgiveness