Lenten Journey Meditations: Psalm 32
(The Message version)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!
The awesomeness of the Lenten Journey is that we can confess our sins and
receive pardon for them. The Psalmist was aware of this and in this modern
translation puts it in language that really should spark our hearts. We always
have that freedom and option to confess our sins and the option of holding and
hiding them within; the results are just as he writes. I'll take freedom any
day! Carrying around the burden of guilt and shame is too much to bear.
PRAYER: Loving God, as I journey today, let it be wiht You and let it be a time
of sharing openly and lovingly about what I have done and how sorry I am for
those things. I hope to be made right with You during this journey of Lent.
Thank you for freedom and forgiveness. In Christ Jesus' precious and powerful
name I pray, amen.
Have a blessed and great day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
