Jesus Carried My Sin

(Note: St. Augustine is famous for writing a book called “The Confessions,” which he wrote completely as a prayer to God. In the same spirit, I plan to write these posts as a prayer to God.)

“For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue. Make them bear their guilt, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out, for they have rebelled against you.” (Psalm 5:9–10, ESV)

For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue.

Heavenly Father, it’s hard to watch people fall into destructive patterns and habits. It’s hard to see those we love spiral downward in their own sin. We are surrounded by people who love to lie. They see truth as moldable to fit their own realities. They flatter people to get their own way. They curse and spit fire when they don’t get their way. We know these people and love them. Father, turn them around from their destruction. 

Father, we know these people better than we imagine. We are these people. Even though you’ve redeemed us and rescued us from our sin and shame, our sinful nature keeps grabbing hold of us. It keeps fighting with us, trying to keep us from living the life you’ve created us to life. So, we lie to get our own way. We try to manipulate people through flattery. We lash out in anger on others when they harm us or when we don’t get our way. 

Father, please forgive us. Please wash us clean from these faults and this guilt. Please rescue us from these sins that destroy us and dishonor You. We can’t save ourselves, Father. We need you to cleanse us, restore us, and empower us to live the live you’ve called us to live in the world. 

Make them bear their guilt, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out, for they have rebelled against you.

Father, these are hard words for me to pray. Yet, I know they are true. Those who continue on in a pattern of sin and rebellion will carry the weight of that rebellion. The weight of their sin will continue to pile on their shoulders, heavier and heavier, until they fall under its weight. They will continue to make bad decisions—rejecting your truth and wisdom—and continue to crash and burn. 

Yet, Father, you have sent someone else into the world to carry the weight of their sin. They don’t have to carry it anymore. They can look to Jesus Christ to carry the weight of their sin—to wash them clean of the stains of their lives. Father, I pray that they would turn from their sin and look to Jesus in faith and trust. I pray that they would cast their sins on him and look to Him who bear their guilt for them; Him who was cast out on their behalf. 

Father, I also ask that you would remind me of this salvation. Help me see more clearly the love you have for me. Help me know more fully the weight of sin and death that you carried for me. Help me rest more fully in the salvation that you earned for me. Then, Father, empower me by your Spirit to walk more fully in the life you’ve created me to live.