July 16, 2022 - 1 John‬ ‭1:9

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 NIV

Lord, make us people who will look at our lives with an honest eye, comparing it to you and your kingdom’s ways. It can be easy when we compare ourselves to the world to think that we are doing good and living righteously. We can even sometimes compare ourselves to other Christians and think the same thing. But to do this we have fallen short of the mark and are deceiving ourselves. Lord, we don’t want to live our lives this way. We need to compare ourselves to you and your righteousness. It is you that we are trying to be like. We have all sinned and we all fall short of your righteousness. The first step on our path to righteousness is to humbly assess our lives and bring the places where we fall short to you. Please open our eyes to the places where we are not measuring up. Show us the places that we are harboring sin. Especially show us the places that we are trying to justify it and hide it away. Expose our excuses and help us clearly see the sin in our lives. Purify us. Jesus, we want to live a righteous life like you.

Jesus, we praise you for the price that you paid so we can be set free from sin. What an incredible gift you have given us! How can we ever even begin to say thank you enough for buying our forgiveness and setting us free from the punishment of death? We praise you for being faithful and just. You promise forgiveness and you will give it. Nothing is too big for your forgiveness to cover and wash away when we bring our sins to you. We want to be so quick to run to you as soon as we recognize we sinned. Help us not to allow our pride to justify things or the lies of the enemy to keep us from immediately bringing them to you. Help us stay humble and desire to live a righteous life.

In Jesus name, amen.