Jack Miller, my spiritual father for 21 years, modeled and taught me the discipline of “preaching the Gospel to yourself.” We’re always talking to ourselves, so why not fill the conversation with the life-giving, heart-transforming truth of the Gospel? For the next several installments of my “prayer blog,” I invite you to practice this discipline with me as we pray fundamental affirmations of the Gospel by means of a portion of God’s Word.
#1 We are completely and exhaustively forgiven
“In Jesus we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” Eph. 1:7 (NIV)
Heavenly Father, thank you for forgiving all of my sins, all of them. Sins I’ve committed in my thinking, with my words, and by my choices. Sins in the past, sins of today, and the sins I have yet to commit. Such forgiveness is almost too good to be true; and it would be, if you hadn’t sent Jesus to be our perfect Savior. The riches of your grace have proven to be more than sufficient for the bankruptcy of my sin. I praise and bless you.
“His unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” Ps. 103:11-12 (NLT)
Holy and gracious God, though my grasp of your grace often fails me, your grasp of me is as unfailing as your love is. Thank you for taking my sins immeasurably far away from me. Oh, how I love the geography of your grace—as far as the east is from the west. Through the gospel, I’m no longer afraid of you as my Judge, but take me deeper and deeper into an affectionate reverence for you. Your love is so compelling and transforming.
“I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” Heb. 10:17 (ESV)
Almighty and loving Father, I know you don’t really have amnesia about my sins, but you have promised me something far better. You will never ever remember my sins against me, because you have remembered them against Jesus on the cross. He took the judgment I deserve that you might give me the grace I could never earn. Hallelujah, what a Savior! Hallelujah, what a salvation!
SO VERY AMEN
