“The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him. Sacrifice and offering He does not desire, burnt offerings and sin offerings He does not require. The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but He loves one who pursues righteousness. What the wicked fears will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.” Scripture reminds us, to guard our steps as we go to the house of God and draw near to listen, rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil.

“O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do. Because Your loving-kindness is better than life, My lips will praise You.”

Too many of us are in denial but need to be delivered from our own selves. We have lost our praise because of our rebelliousness. When we become slaves to sin and the evil way, it soon gives way to habit which becomes hard to break. Lord, deliver us from all our transgressions, so that our tongue shall declare Your righteousness and Your praise all day long. We are tired of being slaves to sin, set us free O God, teach us your ways and show us how to walk uprightly. All this we ask in your holy name. Amen!

No matter what we go through in life – good or bad, there is a lesson to be learned. And especially when we fall into sin, we should not be ashmamed, but use it as a testimony, to hep someone. When Saul began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, declaring, “He is the Son of God.” All who heard him were amazed and asked, “Isn’t this the man who wreaked havoc in Jerusalem on those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” So too, when those who knew us before we were saved, will be amazed at the change God effected in us. Let us continue therefore to tell our story, so that those who are still in that awful place we left a long time ago, would come to believe, to take up their cross and follow Christ.

No matter what I have been through, I could now say with confidence that, “God is my helper; The Lord is the sustainer of my soul.” I ask you now O God, to restore me to the joy of your salvation, make me willing to obey you, lead me in the paths of righteousness all the days of my life. Lord, I understand that, you will order my steps, but I must be willing to obey you. Give me willing hands and feet Lord, remove fear and doubt from within me, so that where you lead me I will follow. “Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.” I want your joy to be my strength. Thank you, Lord!

“Lead me, guide me along the way; Lord, if you lead me I cannot stray, Lord, let me walk each day with thee, lead me, O Lord, lead me. I am lost if you take your hand from me, I am blind without thy aid to see, help me through the darkness thy face to see, lead me, O Lord, lead me. I am tired and I need Thy strength and power, to guide me over my darkest hour, please just open my eyes that I may see, and lead me, O Lord, won’t you lead me. Help me tread in the paths of righteousness; be my aid when Satan and sin oppress. I am putting all of my trust in thee; lead me, O Lord, lead me. Do not cast me off in the time of old age; and do not forsake me when my strength fails.”

He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully, shall receive the blessings of the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Therefore, create in me a clean heart O God, and renew a right spirit within me; please cleanse my heart by faith. Lord, your remind us, that, blest are the pure in heart for they shall see God. Humble me, make me pure in heart Lord, because I want to see my God.

Lord, I am aware that your eyes are on all my ways; they are not hidden from your face, nor is my iniquity concealed from your eyes. Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.

“Surely, against me He has turned His hand repeatedly all the day. He has caused my flesh and my skin to waste away, He has broken my bones. He has besieged and encompassed me with bitterness and hardship.” How many of us have felt the chastisement of our God, so severe that we pleaded with him to give us our joy back? We were so broken and bruised that our faith wavered, but, we did not give up; because we understand, that, “Happy is the man whom God reproves, for He inflicts pain, and gives relief; He wounds, but His hands also heal.” Lord, because I trust in your faithfulness. May I rejoice because of your deliverance! Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which you have broken may rejoice.

Many of you must be wondering what is hyssop? Hyssop is a plant which has antiseptic properties and has been mentioned in the Bible several times in relation to cleansing. Leviticus 14:49, Exodus 12:22 and Psalm 51:7. This period of Lent calls for us to be spiritually clean, to be washed whiter than snow from every stain of sin. My brothers and sisters in Christ, in the Bible, blood and hyssop were used to purify, so too, the blood of Jesus shed for us on Calvary purifies us from sin and evil. Lord, as we confess our sins, purge us with hyssop, wash us and make us whiter than snow. Thank you, Lord!