Praying To Receive The Abundance of God's Forgiveness and Blessing He Is Offering

We live in a broken and confused world.  The signs are all around us and have been ever since Adam and Eve brought sin into God's perfect creation. 

Whatever the source of the covid-19 virus - whether from a market in WuHan or otherwise - we've seen the great devastation that has played out across the world from one little microscopic virus. And unfortunately the pandemic isn’t over yet and the long term effects on those who have gotten ill from it are not yet seen.

This virus and this pandemic is a model or picture of the devastating harm that sin brings about. See how the Bible describes both the problem and God's response.

For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.  Romans 5:15b-17

Oh Lord, what a wreck sin has made of this world and our lives.  We suffer the consequences of the line of sin that's come to us from Adam and Eve and others will suffer because we've sinned to and continued that line of harm that will impact generations to come.  Oh Lord, we'd be hopeless without Your great love and the amazing gift of the Lord Jesus.  Sin breaks us down and leads to condemnation but Your generous grace and forgiveness through Jesus death on the cross rebuilds our relationship with You and makes Your abundant grace and righteousness available to us. 

Lord, we'd be crazy to not align our hearts and lives with the one who loves us so deeply and has done so much to bless us and to provide for us.  Today we're simply praying that we would put ourselves in such a way before You that we can receive all that You are wanting to give us.  We settle for so much less than You have for us but today we want to change that. 

Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths. You care for people and animals alike, O Lord.  How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. You feed them from the abundance of your own house, letting them drink from your river of delights. For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see. Psalm 36:5-9

Thank You Lord for your abundant, unfailing love that is available to us.  It bring justice and stability, shelter and provision to all of us who tur to you.  We don’t quite understand what all that looks like in the middle of both this pandemic and just the general broken state of our world and society, but we know that You can teach us and provide for us going forward if we will come to You today and every day and drink and eat from what You are providing for us. 

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.  Romans 8:1-2

Fill us today with Your lift-giving power, Heavenly Father.  Help us to live in the freedom and joy we have as Your beloved children.

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory  Romans 8:15-17a

We want to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem.  We want to be those who bless rather than those who pass along the curse of more sin and it’s harmful effects to others.  With Your Holy Spirit living in us and working through us we know that we can break the cycle of harm and sin and start a new wave of kindness and blessing.  Amen

It excites me to think about all God has done for us and wants to do in us today.  What a great day we’ll have as we live in His abundant blessing today.  See you tomorrow.