Devotion for Tuesday 25 May
Dear Readers and Listeners, Friends in Jesus Christ,
Our watchword for today is taken from Psalm 86 verse 5, “You , O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you,” (NRSVB). In this prayer of David, he called on the Lord to “incline Your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and distressed, needy and desiring,” (Amplified Bible). David came in humility and asked God to listen to his pleading, for God is the only one who would be able the change his circumstances. David earnestly told God what he was feeling and how his hopeless situation caused him to fear for his life. However, through speaking to God, calling on His Name, David felt the assurance of God’s loving-kindness and God’s mercy. Knowing that God promises forgiveness renews hope in those who are oppressed by the thoughts and the guilt of their wrongful deeds. Those who come to God, being desirous of God’s consolation, receive God’s absolution from past wrongs, for God “is ready to forgive our trespasses.”
Forgiveness is the theme of the life of a child of God. Because God forgave us, and loved us, before we loved him, we are able to forgive those who have wronged us. David asked God in his prayer to teach him the way of the Lord so that he may live in the truth of God. Part of the way of truth is to acknowledge when we have done wrong, to admit our faults to God and to those who have been wronged by us. In order to be pardoned by others who have been wronged, it is important not only to say sorry, but to live in manner that will show changed behaviour. God will teach those who call on him to live and walk in the paths of righteousness for his Name’s sake. Receiving forgiveness from God gives us the courage and humility to go and ask forgiveness from those whom we have wronged. The person who asks for forgiveness, and the person who forgives the wrongs that have been committed against him or her, experience new life. David experienced God’s turning towards him and giving him strength to withstand temptations that would draw him away from coming to the Lord to confess through his prayers.
Confessing what we have done wrong, whether it is to God or humans, is not a natural reaction. People want to hide their wrong deeds. We have read that in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve hid away from God, for they were ashamed because of their disobedience. God came to seek Adam and Eve and took their shame away. However, they had to leave the Garden and had to toil on earth, and would only enter Paradise again, after they have died on earth. We do not need to hide from God, for he knows our thoughts and plans. He knows what we need, even before we bring it to him in prayer. God is our Father, his arms are wide open to welcome us each and everytime when we come to him, and bring to him those things in which we have failed. He doesn’t punish us, but tells us that our failures are forgiven, the slate is wiped clean, through the work of Jesus Christ for us.
The disciples experienced the prayer life of Jesus. He communicated with his Father continuously and left early in the mornings to a quiet place to meet with God in prayer. We read in Luke 11 verse 1, “Jesus was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray,” (NRSVB). The prayer that our Lord taught the disciples is the perfect prayer of the Son of God, the Word of God, becoming flesh and teaching all to pray to our Father. God is our Father, who delights to give us good things. When we come to him and ask him to answer our prayers, in order that his Name would be honoured, we are praying in-line with the will of God. God promises that he will take care of every need that humans have in order to live them abundant life on earth.
God waits for our prayers, he is our Father and he promises us that he listens to our prayers. Prayers are conversations with God, our loving Father, who comes to meet us there where we call on him, He will not disappoint us. God is interested hearing our voices calling to him, talking to him, and bringing those things that concern us and our fellow humans and God’s creation to him.
Father, we come to you in prayer and say with your Son and disciples, Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be your Name, Your will be done. We thank you for your love and forgiveness, and pray that we will forgive those who have trespassed against us and that you will deliver us from evil, for yours are the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever, Amen.
