Words

"Take with you words and return to the Lord." Hosea 14:3

Sometimes all I do is talk, talk, talk to God, not allowing Him to say a word to me! What are the words that we should say to God? This passage from Hosea is always recited on the Sabbath preceding Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, the holiest day of the year for the Jewish people.

The Jews usually observe this holy day  with long fasting and prayer in the synagogue. As the name suggests, it is a day of atonement and repentance.

Perhaps the words we are to say are, “forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us." I was talking to a 6-year old boy the other day who told me about his sins. He had been disobedient and looked so repentant with his head hanging down. I told him that if he confessed his sins to God and apologized to the person he was disobedient to, God will forget his sin and he will be as white as snow. That’s what it says in the Bible. 

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

“The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He does not treat us as our sinsdeserve or repay us according to our iniquities. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:10-13

How wonderful that our God is compassionate and loving, faithful and gracious! Always He teaches us His way of love.