A Prayer to Keep No Record of Wrongs - Your Daily Prayer - October 17

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A Prayer to Keep No Record of Wrongs 
By Rachael Adams

Bible Reading:
As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. - Psalm 103:10-12

Listen or Read Below:

I surveyed the lamplit room of middle- and high-school-aged girls, deep in thought. The glow made them look so beautiful, but I could see the hurt in their eyes even through the dim lighting. During this Night of Agape for preteen and teen girls, we’d laughed after I showed pictures of myself at their ages, especially the photographs with my barrel-rolled bangs and rollerblades. But the night took a more serious turn when I shared my testimony and some of the core beliefs I’d had as a young woman about myself. Those beliefs significantly influenced the choices I made, and, even more so, the consequences that followed from those decisions.

After delivering my story, I allowed the young ladies time for introspection. They were each provided a blank canvas and tasked with drawing the outline of a cross. Inside the frame, I instructed them to note anything they metaphorically wanted to lay down on the cross. I offered them space to write out any dismal thoughts that came to their minds about themselves—decisions they regretted, mistakes they’d made, sins they’d committed, feelings of inadequacy or worthlessness because of what others had said or done to them.

I was amazed at how full the crosses were on each of the 5x7 canvases, which had been blank just five minutes prior. The girls wrote steadily and without hesitation, pouring out their feelings to the Lord. As I walked around the room, glancing at their souls inscribed on the coarse cloth, my heart grieved as I noticed repetition and similarity in their pain and shame. But then, with even more vitality, my heart leapt with hope as I realized God already knew everything those girls had written. There were no surprises here. God still loved them despite it all.

To complete the activity, I supplied each young woman with a red Sharpie. I asked them to cross out everything they had previously listed on the canvas with the marker, symbolizing God’s agape love vanquishing the darkness of the past they had laid down. There was something therapeutic about the exercise, seeing each transgression canceled with every red swipe until all they could see was Christ’s blood erasing years of heartache. 

The teenage girls at this special event learned that God does not keep a record of our sins (Psalm 103:10-12). Isn’t this unfathomable?! When God forgives our sin, He separates the offense from us and doesn’t even remember it (Hebrews 8:12)! While we may have difficulty forgetting, the Lord absolves our failings as long as we confess and repent. And once we receive His merciful gift, we must pass it on to others, for we are charged to “bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you (Colossians 3:13).” 

Remembering how much God has forgiven you is the key to extending the same grace to those who may have done you wrong. What would happen if we, too, removed the transgressions of others as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12)? Instead of wallowing in offense and dredging up the past, what if we wiped each other's slates clean? Are you keeping score today? I pray we no longer keep a record of wrongs and instead choose to forgive, forget, and reconcile with others as far as it is up to us. 

This concept also applies to our own account of sin, holding onto a ledger of our own misconduct as well. If we were together, I’d hand you a canvas and a red marker. And while it’s true, our canvases would likely be overflowing with failures, through true repentance, the blood of Jesus Christ erases our past, present, and future offenses. Allow this truth to wash over your heart today: No matter what you’ve done or what’s been done to you, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow (Isaiah 1:18).” Sweet friend, God views you as an untarnished blank canvas. Let’s no longer keep an inventory of all our mistakes. If we keep account, may it only be of His great love that wipes it all clean. 

Let’s Pray:

Lord, 

Thank You for pardoning me of my sins and erasing their very existence. Please help me accept Your mercy and absolve myself. May I forgive others as you have forgiven me. I release those in my life who have hurt me. Produce in me a generous attitude of grace toward others, the way You have extended it to me. Show me if there's someone in my life whom I have hurt, and give me the strength to humbly ask them for their forgiveness. Help us all to see our lives as a blank canvas, like you do.

In Jesus’s name, Amen.

Photo Credit: ©Pexels/Rawpixel 

Author of A Little Goes a Long Way and host of The Love Offering podcast, Rachael Adams, hopes to help women realize their God-given purpose and significance. She and her husband, Bryan, live in Kentucky with their two children, Will and Kate. Her work has been featured on Crosswalk, Proverbs 31, Today Parenting, and YouVersion. Connect with her by visiting rachaelkadams.com, searching @rachaeladamsauthor on social media, and tuning in to The Love Offering podcast every Tuesday on your favorite listening platform. 

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