Have mercy on me, O God…

- Psalm 51:1

Jesus continues His model for how to pray in Matthew 6:12-13, “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”  

A debt is something we owe to someone, or something another person holds against us.  

Jesus instructs us to ask God to forgive us for the wrongs we have done to Him and to others. All sin is sin against God, but often others are hurt by our sin.  

God does not take sin lightly! He is so serious about sin that He sent His Son Jesus to die in our place as punishment for our sin.  

King David wrote Psalm 51 after he committed adultery with Bathsheba - - This is a song acknowledging his sin and asking God to forgive him.  

Spend some time this morning acknowledging your sin before God. 1 John 1:9 says God will forgive our sins when we confess them! Use the Psalm below as a prayer of confession to God.  

Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
and justified when you judge.
Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Psalm 51:1-10  

TODAY: Believe in God’s unfailing love and his continual grace and mercy!  

With Love,
Kristi Briggs