Day 6: Forgiven

Adapted from Psalm 25. To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in You I trust. Make me know Your ways, O Lord. For You I wait all the day. Remember, O Lord, Your compassion and Your loving kindness, for they are everlasting. Please do not remember the sins of my youth or my present transgressions. According to Your loving kindness, instead remember me as Your child, Give me the compassion to forgive others as You have forgiven me. For Your goodness sake, Amen.

Each day, I try to read from my previous year’s prayer journal to help me remember what I was praying about that day. Last year I included reading from what I wrote 10 years ago. One strange aspect of remembering is that the distance of a year and then ten years usually softens any memories that include being hurt. The psalmist asks God “not remember the sins of my youth or my present transgressions.” Memories are powerful, but the act of remembering has been different these past few years. It is powerful to know that God does not define us by our transgressions.