A SONG OF ASCENTS.
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD!
O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.
O Israel, hope in the LORD!
For with the LORD there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.
And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
Gracious God and Heavenly Father,
In our troubles and when we have a troubled conscience, we cry out to you and plead for your mercy. We are guilty of sin and have no right to stand before you expecting anything but judgement. And yet when we confess our guilt and ask for forgiveness, you give it freely. You love us so much that you gave up your Son to death on a cross to atone for our sins. Jesus is our mighty redeemer and when we believe in him we are assured of his love and forgiveness.
Thanks be to God! AMEN