Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking Him to meet with you and speak to you.
Bible Reading
O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath! For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has come down on me. There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin. For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness, I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all the day I go about mourning. For my sides are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh. I am feeble and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart. O Lord, all my longing is before you; my sighing is not hidden from you. My heart throbs; my strength fails me, and the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me. My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague, and my nearest kin stand far off. Those who seek my life lay their snares; those who seek my hurt speak of ruin and meditate treachery all day long. But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear, like a mute man who does not open his mouth. I have become like a man who does not hear, and in whose mouth are no rebukes. But for you, O Lord, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer. For I said, “Only let them not rejoice over me, who boast against me when my foot slips! For I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever before me. I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin. But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty, and many are those who hate me wrongfully. Those who render me evil for good accuse me because I follow after good. Do not forsake me, O Lord! O my God, be not far from me! Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!
– Psalm 38
Devotion
Although Jesus dealt with our sins once and for all on the cross, we still live in a fallen world and experience the results of its curse. In Psalm 38, David laments over his sin. He feels that his sickness, pain, and torment are a direct result of his sin against God. He loathes his life as he experiences treachery, shame and terror.
When David experiences the depths of despair due to his sin, he cries out to God, expressing his longing for closeness to God. During his darkest moments, he confesses his sin and iniquity before God, and reminds God (and himself) of God’s steadfast love and ability to save. When we are convicted by our sin we can also remember that, though we fall, our God forgives and remains our firm foundation; He will never leave us or forsake us.
The Big Question
Unconfessed sin in in our lives can fester and consume us. Is there any sin that you need to confess to Jesus today in order experience his forgiveness and freedom from guilt?
Conclude in prayer and silence reflecting on what you’ve learned.