Devotions from Haase’s book, Living the Lord’s Prayer

As we think about the part of the Lord’s prayer of Forgive us our trespasses, we are aware that God doesn’t withhold mercy from anyone.  “Don’t set limits to the mercy of God. Don’t imagine that because you are not pleasing to yourself, you’re not pleasing to God.”  God loves us not because we are good but because God is good.  Bernard of Clairvaux said, “Every soul that stands under condemnation with nothing to say of itself has the power to turn and discover it can yet breathe the fresh air of God’s pardon and mercy.”

 We need only to come out of hiding and be found and embraced by our Father.  As His beloved, we are only a heart’s request away from forgiveness.  God is anxious and ready and eager to forgive.

His divine mercy transforms us from a sinner to a saint. He throws our sins into the ocean, forgets the past, and welcomes us home with wide-opened arms.