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TODAY’S WORD…

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I fell on my knees with my hands spread out to the Lord my God

and prayed:

‘I am too ashamed and disgraced, my God, to lift up my face to You,

because our sins are higher than our heads

and our guilt has reached to the heavens.’

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– Ezra 9:5b-6 (NIV)

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REFLECTION…

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This is a remorseful confession of sin.

It is a genuine prayer put up in faith.

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A true penitent resents sin,

is ashamed of it,

repents from it

and seeks God’s forgiveness.

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In true repentance,

holy shame is as necessary as holy sorrow.

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We may sometimes wonder

how we have not yet wearied out the Lord’s patience

and brought destruction on ourselves.

But a strong faith provides the contrite believer

with comfort and reassurance

that although his or her sins may have “reached to the heavens”,

there is God’s mercy in the heavens.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Oh my Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God,

I am too ashamed and disgraced to lift up my face to You,

but Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner!

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