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Dec 27.05: Light For The Day - "Old Year's Resolution"

We have to face our sins 
before we can put them behind us.

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-- Psalm 51:1,2
1 Have mercy on me, O God, because of Your unfailing love. Because of Your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.
2 Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.

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What we propose to do in the new year is not as
important as what we actually do with the old year.
That's why I suggest that instead of thinking about
new year's resolutions, we should think about the
resolution of the old year. 

Sound confusing? Here's what I mean. Before we
make plans for our lives in the new year and in our
service for God, we need to take care of any
problems we still have with the old year.

We should deal with unconfessed sin before we
begin making new plans. 

So as the old year winds down, try getting away 
from everyone else for a little while and have a
meeting with God. Take along a Bible, a pen, and
a blank sheet of paper. First, spend some time
reading and meditating on Psalm 51, David's
prayer of repentance. 

Then write down all of the junk from this past year
that you can think of that you still need to confess
to God. 

Next, following David's example, ask God's
forgiveness. Then, just to remind yourself that He
will blot out your transgressions (v.1), take that
piece of paper, tear it into bits, and throw it away. 

Now you can start out the new year with a clean
heart. That beats any other resolution you could ever make. 

-- J.D.B. 

We're thankful, Lord, that when we fall
We can begin anew
If humbly we confess our sin,
Then turn and follow You. 
-- Sper

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-- 1 John 4:9-10
9 God showed how much He loved us by sending His only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him.
10 This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

-- Ephesians 1:6-8
6 So we praise God for the wonderful kindness He has poured out on us because we belong to His dearly loved Son.
7 He is so rich in kindness that He purchased our freedom through the blood of His Son, and our sins are forgiven.
8 He has showered His kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

-- Isaiah 1:18
"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."

-- Micah 7:18-19 
18 Where is another God like You, who pardons the sins of the survivors among His people? You cannot stay angry with Your people forever, because You delight in showing mercy.
19 Once again You will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under Your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!

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-- Psalms 51
1 Have mercy on me, O God, because of Your unfailing love. Because of Your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.
2 Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.
3 For I recognize my shameful deeds—they haunt me day and night.
4 Against You, and You alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in Your sight. You will be proved right in what You say, and Your judgment against me is just.
5 For I was born a sinner—yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
6 But You desire honesty from the heart, so You can teach me to be wise in my inmost being.
7 Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8 Oh, give me back my joy again; You have broken me—now let me rejoice.
9 Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.
11 Do not banish me from Your presence, and don’t take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me again the joy of Your salvation, and make me willing to obey You.
13 Then I will teach Your ways to sinners, and they will return to You.

14 Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of Your forgiveness.
15 Unseal my lips, O Lord, that I may praise You.
16 You would not be pleased with sacrifices, or I would bring them. If I brought You a burnt offering, You would not accept it.

17 The sacrifice You want is a broken spirit. A broken and repentant heart, O God, You will not despise.
18 Look with favor on Zion and help her; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then You will be pleased with worthy sacrifices and with our whole burnt offerings; and bulls will again be sacrificed on Your altar.