Psalm 32 (NIV)
Blessed is the one
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the one
whose sin the Lord does not count against them
and in whose spirit is no deceit.
…
Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
my transgressions to the Lord.”
And you forgave
the guilt of my sin.
Therefore let all the faithful pray to you
while you may be found;
surely the rising of the mighty waters
will not reach them.
You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
Do not be like the horse or the mule,
which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you.
Many are the woes of the wicked,
but the Lord’s unfailing love
surrounds the one who trusts in him.
Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart!
Devotion
This year’s focus on the desire for a “New and Right Spirit” comes at a time when I need to read, hear, and reflect on the passages presented. God has a guiding hand in what comes before us.
I attended a funeral this week of a long-time friend, who I never would have described with the word “friend,” until I heard the eulogy and remembrances of his life by others who had known him over the same years that I did. I realized that indeed he was a friend to each of us.
You see, Phillip was homeless; he had been homeless and living a very tough life since I met him in 2001. At the time I had a benevolent element of my job and determined who might be eligible for assistance.
To get to the heart of it, I felt the guilt of failing him over these many years, because even though I was able to help him at times, it was little and in reflection I could have done more.
When I heard of his death those feelings overwhelmed my memory of him. I focused more on my guilt than on the blessing of knowing him and learning from him. As others said at his service, he enriched our lives by his honesty, perseverance, faith, and an ever-authentic view of life. He never had a sense of entitlement, only a sense of gratitude.
In Psalm 32, I read that “Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.” My prayer is that in confessing my shortcomings, and acknowledging my selfishness, God will forgive and grant me a “New and Right Spirit.”
Prayer
Peace be with you, be attentive to God’s leading. Be open to the challenge of searching for a New and Right Spirit. As we move forward into this year take time to pray for God’s presence in your life, your family, and our world. Listen and you may be surprised and enriched by the leading of our Lord. Amen.
Bob Clark