It’s Our Choice: Pray or Be Prey

By: Karen Umaña

Scripture: Micah 7:18-19, Psalm 103:12, Hebrews 10:17, 1 John 1:9

David was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). David’s life had many highs and some lows.

Just like David, unfortunately sometimes our negatives outweigh our positives. We can do a million good things, but the one time we mess up, it seems like all the good is forgotten. David messed up bad— I mean real bad. But what’s amazing about David was that when he asked the Lord for forgiveness and the Lord forgave him, David truly knew that he was forgiven. He walked around like nothing ever happened and he worshiped God day and night in the good and the bad.

This year I learned from David’s tenacity, and it felt amazing. I messed up really bad with one of the members of my church. But as soon as I realized my horrible error, I didn’t want to wait to apologize, so as soon as I could, I did. And then I asked God for His forgiveness for what I had done. After I did that, I remember thinking this is how David must have felt after God forgave him, because I felt new and fresh and good— like I had done exactly what my King expected of me.

What I needed to do was to mend my relationship with my sister in Christ. What it took was for me to give my apology sincerely, and truly feel for the person I had wronged. That set me free. I think David worshiped in the good times and the bad times because he was truly free to speak to God.

Reflection: The true feeling of being forgiven is the true pouring out of your heart to God.

Prayer:

Lord, help me pour it all out to you when asking for forgiveness, and remind me that your forgiveness is 100% true.

Pray for Seventh Day Baptists in Malawi, Mozambique, and the Netherlands.