LENT: Mar 16 - Daniel 9:4-5

Ah, Lord, great and awesome God,

keeping covenant and steadfast love

with those who love you and

keep your commandments,

we have sinned and done wrong.

Daniel 9:4-5

 

Most times when we talking to the “great and awesome God,” we start with “O Lord.”

 

In today’s verse, however, Daniel starts with “Ah, Lord.” (And I don’t think it’s a Nestea plunge, “AHHH!!! Cool and refreshing.”)

 

Daniel is sighing. Grieving.

 

It’s “Ah, nuts. We’ve done it again … for the eighty-fifth time. We have sinned and done wrong.”

 

And yet it’s not a hopeless sigh! Daniel is confessing to a God of steadfast love. He is steady, firm, resolute. He always, always, lovingly, keeps covenant.

 

In what ways are you crying, “Ah, nuts”? In what ways do you need to start crying, “Ah, rats.” God does forgive – and that frees us. But there’s a second kind of freedom: We’re in prison of guilt and shame and secrecy until we give everything to God, who will set us free.

 

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who needs to cry, “Nuts”

multiple times a day.

Fortunately I have a God

who turn that into Almond Joy!