Listen

The one whose wrongdoing is forgiven, whose sin is covered over, is truly happy! The one the Lord doesn’t consider guilty— in whose spirit there is no dishonesty— that one is truly happy!

Psalm 32:1-2

Think

If you want to buy happiness, there are plenty of people who are selling. The world of advertising exists to convince us that if we only had this car, this food, this pair of shoes, this perfume, or this sports drink, we would finally be better looking, stronger, faster, cooler, smarter, more successful. And this, according to the commercials, is what will change our lives and make us truly happy at last.

This kind of happiness is both expensive and worthless.

We can’t buy true happiness, but we can receive it! It is a gift from God called forgiveness. It doesn’t make us better looking or faster or more successful, but it allows us to be more honest, to be more open, to be ourselves. It doesn’t make life perfect, but it redeems our imperfections — our failures and our mistakes. It doesn’t get us out of trouble, but it brings us out of hiding and into the light.

Nikki Finkelstein-Blair

Pray

Because you forgive, O God, I can tell you the truth: I make mistakes. Please cover over my wrong acts and my wrong choices. Help me to find true happiness. Amen.

Go

God's grace overflows: you are forgiven!

Now open the door in a wide welcome, and offer the same mercy and healing you have received.

The world is waiting to be restored.