Joel M Bradshaw

4As for me, I said, “O LORD, be gracious to me;
heal me, for I have sinned against you!”–Psalm 41

Here’s what this powerful verse teaches us.

1. David recognized that his sins were ultimately against God. Even though he obviously sinned against others, David started with God. This is confession or agreeing with God about his situation.
2. David literally cried out “heal my soul”. He longed for a transformation from within. He didn’t rationalize or justify his sins, but longed for a change. This is the foundation of repentance.
3. David saw God’s response as his only hope for his situation. David’s choices led to his sin problem. Only God’s choice can save him from that problem. David in himself had no hope. Only God was his hope.

A prayer like this should be often for you sin against God often. It maintains a humble, dependent perspective with God and a sobering reality regarding our sins. This is another time when our brothers and sisters in Celebrate Recovery have an advantage. For we regularly admit our weaknesses to solve our problems and daily submit to our Higher Power, Jesus Christ.–JMB