Psalm 32

A COMMON STRUGGLE

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Over the past several months I’ve been pondering the basic struggle we believers face, the same ones all serious seekers of Jesus contend with daily: The disparity between what we profess and how we actually live.

All the Bible “greats” wrestled with this same tension, super-saints like David and Paul. Then it hit me: “Hey, at least I’m trying; at least I want to be a man well-pleasing to God (of course we know that by God’s grace through faith in Christ alone we have been freely justified, declared righteous in God’s sight and are therefore perfectly pleasing to Him positionally — yippy and hallelujah!).

This heart-desire to be well-pleasing to the Lord is something God sees. I believe this is what David had and hence God’s declaration, despite many heinous shortcomings, that David was a man after His own heart (Psalms 32 and 51 are examples of why God thought this way of David).

I think intentions, transparency, and desire goes a long way in God’s eyes. He is aware of how difficult this life of faith is!

In his song “Hand of Kindness” Bob Bennett reminds us that God’s benevolent Hand is leading and blessing us all the time. He knows ours is a life of faith from beginning to end! In fact, I just recently came across a very candid statement made by Martin Luther which was quite encouraging: “Our faith is an astounding thing — astounding that I should believe him to be the Son of God who is suspended on the cross, whom I have never seen, with whom I have never become acquainted.”All this to say: Let’s take our walk with Jesus one day at a time, confessing our sins as we go, and silencing Satan’s accusing voice with the commands and promises of Scripture.

A Prayer of Atonement

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Psalm 32 (NLT)
Oh, what joy for those whose rebellion is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!
Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of sin, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
When I refused to confess my sin, I was weak and miserable, and I groaned all day long.
Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.
Interlude
My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.
Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them.
I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.”
Interlude
And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.
Therefore, let all the godly confess their rebellion to you while there is time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.
For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble.
Interlude
You surround me with songs of victory.
The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”
Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the LORD.
So rejoice in the LORD and be glad, all you who obey him!
Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!

A Theme to Remember:
There is only one way to experience the joyful, cleansing power of forgiveness. It’s by confessing our sins to the only One who can redeem us and make us wholly acceptable in the holy eyes of God.

Words to Remember:
I must die or get somebody to die for me. If the Bible doesn’t teach that, it doesn’t teach anything. And that is where the atonement of Jesus Christ comes in.
–D.L. Moody