Remember, O LORD, You compassion and Your lovingkindnesses,
For they have been of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
According to Your lovingkindness remember me,
For Your goodness’ sake, O LORD!

   - Psalm 25.6, 7 (NASB)

This is why I should give thanks to God without ceasing – because He has often been lenient with my foolishness and my carelessness. And because on more than one occasion He has not been wrathful with me, who was given to Him as a helper but who did not quickly accept the task which was made clear to me nor do as the Spirit prompted.

   - Patrick, Confession, Irish, 5th century

The bad news, as Jack Miller used to say, is that we’re worse than we think. But the good news is that God is more gracious and merciful than we will ever know.

We blithely go about our daily activities piling up sins of jealousy, lust, meanness, wastefulness, indifference, and hordes more, and we think little or nothing of it. We are so unremittingly sinful that sinning becomes a way of life to which we become all too easily inured.

Most of the sins we commit never come to confession. We’re just that hardened and sloppy about our spiritual lives. But the Lord knows, and He is able to show grace, patience, and mercy – and does so – more than we know, more, typically, than we ever stop to give thanks for amid the business and distractions of our lives.

So why not pause just now and reflect on the fact that God, through Jesus Christ, does not regard your sins with wrath, but with mercy?

It is good to take time during the day to allow the Spirit to search our souls and bring to the surface any attitudes, thoughts, or deeds – done or undone – that offend the holiness and love of God (Ps. 139.23, 24). Then we will realize that His mercy is ever at work toward us, and we will be moved to offer more love to Him. If, at such times, we confess the sins He brings to light, we can be certain that He will forgive those we are still too hardened or blind to see (1 Jn. 1.8, 9). In His way and time, He will help us to deal even with these.

We only deprive ourselves of delighting in the Lord and enjoying His presence as long as we muddle along, like some spiritual Pig Pen, with the stench and foulness of our sins rising around us everywhere we go.

God is merciful. We need mercy. What a perfect fit.

Psalm 28.3-5 (Angel’s Story: “O Jesus, I Have Promised”)
Lord, count me not among those who walk in sinful ways;
With words of peace their tongue glows while evil fills their days.
Your works they disregard, Lord, while evil fills their hands;
Destroy them by Your Word, Lord, and let them no more stand.

Lord, stir up love and fear for You in my heart, for I will only be lukewarm toward holiness until You do. Adapted from Colmán mac Beógnai, Aipgitir Chrábaid