Psalms 32, 51, 86, 122 (14th May) - Xiao Woon

Psalm 32
We can rejoice and have the joy of the Lord for Jesus’ blood has covered our sins and we’re forgiven.

Thank God for His forgiveness! Confess our sins to the Lord and He’ll forgive us. Our God does not hesitate to forgive us. As long as we have the heart n sincerity to repent of our sins, He’ll definitely forgive us.

Many times, we may see sin as if there are different levels of seriousness of sins, big or small sins. Sometimes we may compromise the small sins in our lives and say it’s ok. Then big sins or hidden sins we may find that we cannot even forgive ourselves. But to God, there’s no difference in the kind of sin we commit because they’re all the same, fallen short of the glory of God, and they are all serious, big or small. But thank God for His grace and mercy.

Let us not compromise the small sins in our lives, but to repent of them. Also, for the big or hidden sins, let us not run away from God for fear that He’ll judge us or that He won’t forgive us, and let us not hide them from Him for He knows everything. Instead, confess those sins to God and BELIEVE that He forgives every one of our sins and that He does not judge us. As you believe that He’s already forgiven you, you must also learn to forgive yourself. Embrace that joy of the Lord and rejoice for the righteousness that we can have in the Lord for Jesus has taken all the curses and transgressions upon Himself for us so that we may be righteous before God. Let there be no guilt for guilt does not come from God. (Psalm 103:12)

Also, something very important that I learnt recently is that we must also forgive as the Lord has forgiven us. I learnt from the Jackie Pullinger conference that He forgives us even when He knows that we will sin again. He forgives us whether or not we will change. In the same way, we must also forgive whoever who has hurt us or did us wrong in any way. This is not easy because when you have been hurt by someone very deeply, it is just so difficult to forgive that person because whenever you see that person, you will be reminded of the things that that person did to hurt you. But remember that we have to forgive as the Lord forgave, and with God’s help, it is possible to forgive that person. And you have only truly forgiven that person when you do not see that person as someone who has hurt you.

Psalm 51
This was how David prayed for forgiveness from the Lord. A prayer of repentance.

God knows our heart. He knows whether we really want to repent of our sins or are we just repenting for the sake of repenting. So don’t pretend to repent. Repent because you really want to have a 180 degree change and rid off that sin.

Verse 17: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart- These, O God, You will not despise.”
Indeed, the best sacrifice we can give to the Lord is our broken spirit and contrite heart.

Thank God that He washes us of our sins. Whenever we repent, we nail our sins to the cross and God gives us a blank white paper to start all over again. Praise Him=)

Psalm 86
Verse 5: “For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.”

Thank God that He is always ready to forgive, even before we confess our sins.

Psalm 122
This psalm talks about the joy of going to the house of the Lord.

This made me think: what’s our attitude of going service every Sunday? Or what’s our attitude of spending time daily with the Lord? Do we enter into His presence with joy? Or is it just a routine, something that is right and that we, as Christians, should do? Is it a Christian duty to go service, to serve, to read the bible?

Of course, we all know the right attitude that we should have when we do all these things of the Lord or enter His house. Many times the devil may tell you otherwise, and make you feel as though all these are just what you should do, and that you don’t have the joy etc. Be careful and constantly remind yourself that Christianity is not about a religion, it’s a relationship with God. I believe we’re happy whenever we’re going to meet our good friends or something right? In the same way, when we have a relationship with God, we’ll be excited to meet up with Him!

Let us all have the joy of meeting up with one another in service and cell group meetings, and most importantly, with God =)