Worst Enemy

Worst Enemy “Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.” (Psalm 51 vs. 2 & 3) Self-forgiveness is always a challenge. My worst characteristic is holding on to my transgressions and errors, feeling bad about things that happened 50 years ago! I believe most people are that way, but I pray they are not. In twelve-step recovery programs making amends to people you may have harmed is part of the process. Working with people over the years has shown me that at least half of those contacted do not remember the offense! That has always intrigued me. If my first statement is a fact, at least half of our internal remorse is unnecessary. We hang on to things that do not matter; we are our own worst enemy. That is not the case written by the Psalmist above. David talks about his affair with Bathsheba, and his conscience is bothering him deeply. He is praying for cleansing and forgiveness and will receive it. The question is, can he accept it? We are very hard on ourselves in our human world and need to develop more robust spiritual growth to find acceptance. Thought for Today: Today, let’s move on with our activities unencumbered by our internal memories. Let’s leave remorse behind and generate some positive memories! Prayer for Today: Dear Lord and Father, like David, we have been holding on to past transgressions. Today, we pray that we may let them go and escape so that they do not affect the work we can do for you in the future. We know you will forgive us, and that is not our issue. Amen