Love and Repentance
(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.)
“If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow; he has prepared for him his deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts. Behold, the wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies. He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made. His mischief returns upon his own head, and on his own skull his violence descends.” (Psalm 7:12–16, ESV)
If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow; he has prepared for him his deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts.
Heavenly Father, sometimes these images of your wrath frighten me. Honestly, they should frighten me more. I don't like to think of you sharpening a sword, or bending a bow, preparing deadly weapons, or lighting arrows on fire. Yet, you are a holy and pure God. You hate evil. If you were to ignore evil—look the other way—you wouldn’t be a good God. You’d be evil and unjust.
So, Father, help me see this side of you more clearly. Help me see how much you hate sin. Help me understand the goodness and beauty of these images.
Father, may these images cause me to repent of my sin. If I don’t repent your sword is ready and your bow is bent. But if I repent, you welcome me into your arms in mercy. In my repentance, I become like the prodigal son returning home, welcomed in your embrace. So, Father, soften my heart to repent of my sin.
Behold, the wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies. He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made. His mischief returns upon his own head, and on his own skull his violence descends.
Father, help me see the foolishness of my sin. The more I think about it, the more ridiculous it seems. I turn away from you, seeking pleasure, only to step into sorrow and pain. I dig a hole looking for gold and become trapped in it. Every time I try to turn away from you—seeking pleasure elsewhere—I find no joy. Sure, it seems good for a bit, but it always ends in joylessness. Why do I keep on doing it?
Father, remind me of the sinfulness that remains within me. Remind me that I am pregnant with mischief and giving birth to lies. Help me look beyond myself—beyond my strength—to you, the one who can break the power of sin and death and cleanse me from all my sin.
Father, I also ask you to change my heart. Change my heart so I see the foolishness of these temptations and traps. Change my heart so I see the beauty and glory of following you. Help me love walking in your way.