Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.”
NL Daily Devotion for Friday, February 24, 2023
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
I used to think everyone kept track of everything I did wrong. I had tantrums as a kid. I fought with my little brother all the time. And my sister. I have this idea in my head that I was “the difficult one” of the four of us. As long as everything was going along smoothly, I held out hope that maybe everyone had forgotten the last umpteen things I had done “wrong.” But then I’d mess up again and realize they were just going to add this latest indiscretion to the laundry list of my bad behavior.
To be fair, it’s possible I had this erroneous belief because I was busy keeping track of everyone else’s offences toward me. I don’t know why. I just remember things, especially when they feed my narrative of self-pity. I’m not good at forgiveness—particularly self-forgiveness. It’s just something innate in me, I think. In the end, the only person keeping track of my bad behavior was me.
I relate to the psalmist here. Not that I’ve ever done something as egregious as King David, whose reprehensible actions concerning Bathsheba are associated with this psalm. But I do know my transgressions and while my sin may not be “ever” before me, it has a tendency to come up regularly at the least convenient times. I need God’s mercy and love. I need the kind of forgiveness God freely gives, so I can break free of the inaction caused by perfectionism and get on with my life. Maybe you can relate.
Do I struggle with self forgiveness? How might God’s love help transform this in me?
