Friday, March 23, 2012

Friday of Lent 4



What sins should we confess?

Before God, we should plead guilty of all sins, even of those, which we do not know, as we do in the Lord's Prayer. But before the confessor we should confess those sins alone which we know and feel in our hearts.


But what about those sins that bother me? What about those sins with which I struggle?  What should I do when I question, wrestle, and sometimes doubt? It is at those times that we make confession before the pastor. When we confess our sins to our pastor and ask for forgiveness especially of those sins with which we struggle we receive the comforting assurance that these sins are forgiven. King David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord” And Nathan said to David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.” (2 Samuel 12:13) 

Almighty and everlasting God, the consolation of the sorrowful and the strength of the weak, may the prayers of those who in any tribulation or distress cry to You graciously come before You, so that in all their necessities they may mark and receive Your manifold help and comfort; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Collect for the afflicted and distressed, Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
Artwork by Ed Rojas, © Higher Things

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