The Lord's Prayer: Forgive Our Sins

Today’s Verse: Luke 11:4a

And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.”

Words of Devotion

As we pray for our needs we can often forget that our greatest need is forgiveness.  God wants us to experience the freedom of forgiveness: the freedom of being forgiven by God and the freedom that comes from extending forgiveness to others.  Scripture is clear that if we confess our sins to God, He will forgive us and cleanse us (1 John 1:9).  

Confession means: the acknowledgment that we have sinned and willingness to commit our lives to God.   We are admitting to Christ that we’ve sinned against Him. (“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23) We are to acknowledge that Jesus died, and shed His blood for our sins.  We are agreeing that His mercy and grace are a free gift from God.

King David, in Psalm 51, wrote out a moving prayer of confession:

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.

Against you, you only, have I sinned

and done what is evil in your sight,

so that you may be justified in your words

and blameless in your judgment.

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,

and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,

and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Let me hear joy and gladness;

let the bones that you have broken rejoice.

Hide your face from my sins,

and blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from your presence,

and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways,

and sinners will return to you.

(Psalm 51:1-13)

In what areas of your life do you need to confess sins and experience forgiveness?