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Hear the devotional: https://anchor.fm/eradio-valverde/episodes/A-Fresh-Start-e1vd9kn
View the devotional: https://www.tiktok.com/@eradiovalverde/video/7203209632620367150?lang=en
1 Count yourself lucky, how happy you must be - you get a fresh start, your slate's wiped clean. 2 Count yourself lucky - God holds nothing against you and you're holding nothing back from him. 3 When I kept it all inside, my bones turned to powder, my words became daylong groans. 4 The pressure never let up; all the juices of my life dried up. 5 Then I let it all out; I said, "I'll make a clean breast of my failures to God." Suddenly the pressure was gone - my guilt dissolved, my sin disappeared. 6 These things add up. Every one of us needs to pray; when all hell breaks loose and the dam bursts we'll be on high ground, untouched. 7 God's my island hideaway, keeps danger far from the shore, throws garlands of hosannas around my neck. 8 Let me give you some good advice; I'm looking you in the eye and giving it to you straight: 9 "Don't be ornery like a horse or mule that needs bit and bridle to stay on track." 10 God-defiers are always in trouble; God-affirmers find themselves loved every time they turn around. 11 Celebrate God. Sing together - everyone! All you honest hearts, raise the roof! (Psalm 32 The Message Bible)
A blessed and wonderful Thursday for you, dear Friend is my prayer for you. May your first full day of your Lenten journey be filled with blessings and joys. May it help guide you to the fullness of God's love and passion. Pray for one another; pray for those who have asked prayer of us; pray for the needs around you, your personal needs, and the needs of the world.
"You're free to go."
Probably the most welcome and desired words to those who know what this refers to.
"You're cancer free."
Yup, high up there, too.
"Congratulations, you have graduated."
Uh huh. High up there, too.
"I love you, too."
We could together assemble a long list of phrases that tell us good news and thus bolster our attitude, etc. But, this passage talks about our heaing,
"You are forgiven."
That's the message of Good News from our God. Even as early as the psalmist writing this psalm, he writes these awesome words, "Count yourself lucky..." And in the NIV it reads, "Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered." In this The Message Bible it continues, :how happy you must be - you get a fresh start, your slate's wiped clean." Then these words, "God holds nothing against you and you're holding nothing back from Him." The psalmist knew, as we should also know; when we surrender to God and turn everything over to Him, we have found life and that in abundance. This is why we celebrate Lent, because we are reminded that we need God. The ashes on our foreheads reminds us that we came from dust and truly deserve to return to dust, but what God did for us through Jesus sends us beyond that to the awesome joy of Resurrection and this even after the pain and agony of the Cross.
What the psalmist has shared in this psalm is a summary of what can be ours through these forty days of Lent. We may feel weak to the point, like he says, to the point of having turned to powder, and the intense pressure on us may be relentless, but we don't give up; we turn to God and turn over to God Who will release the pressure of old sin will be relieved. Our prayers will bless us and grant to us the renewed strength to move foward. Our Lenten journey should lead us to celebrating God. May we join our hearts in praise each day as we prepare for the wonderful blessings that will be ours when we come to the most important event of this special season.
PRAYER: Awesome God, walk with us on this journey. Lead us to the place where we receive the clean slate of forgiven sins; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Celebrate Jesus on this Lenten Journey.
Receive my blessings of joy and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
