A Prayer for Grace after Stumbling - Your Daily Prayer - October 21

A Prayer for Grace after Stumbling
By Sophia Bricker

Bible Reading:
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9, NIV).

Listen or Read Below:

Recently, I went to the zoo with my sister. Crowds of people flocked to the exhibits, blocking the view of the animals. Kids zipped through the crowd. And people were so close that, at times, they would bump into us or hit our feet with strollers. 

Amid the chaos of the crowds, we paused to view the African elephant habitat, where the mighty creatures were enjoying a meal by lifting bundles of plants to their mouths with their trunks. Walking further to see the largest elephant respond to a zookeeper, I failed to see an incline in the path because of a shadow. One moment I was watching the elephant, the next I was face forward on the ground. The incline had caused me to stumble and fall.   

Although my sister and a kind bystander helped me get back on my feet, and I was thankfully not badly injured, my knee had taken the brunt of the fall and swelled, later turning into a dark bruise. For weeks after, I could not walk normally and had to be mindful of propping up my leg and applying ice. Missing one step impacted weeks of my life.    

Isn’t this true of life? We are walking through our days, seemingly on level paths, when suddenly we trip and fall into sin, old habits, or destructive ways of thinking. The experience can be just as jarring and discouraging as stumbling, since we may not always see the “unlevel path” of sin coming. And the experience can impact our lives for days, weeks, months, and even years.   

Yet, by God’s good grace, we do not have to stay on the ground, in the hurt and devastation of our sinful choices and actions. Scripture tells us that if we confess our sins, honestly acknowledging the ugliness of what we have done in the sight of God, as David did when he said, “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight,” then we have the promise that the Lord will forgive us (Psalm 51:4, NIV). Other verses also emphasize the great grace that God gives to transgressors when they confess to the Holy One and trust in His forgiveness (Psalm 32:5; Proverbs 28:13). We do not deserve His grace, which makes the forgiveness and purification all the more wonderful.  

For while we were bowed down under the weight of the darkness in our souls, God the Son entered the world to live a perfect human life. The sinless One took the weight of our sins upon Himself and died in our place so that we would receive a new life and walk unhindered for the glory of the Father.  

This is good news for all who stumble. As Psalm 145:14 says, “The LORD helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads” (NLT). Whenever we trip in the Christian life (which is inevitable in a fallen world), our Savior is there to grip our hand and pull us to our feet. He wipes the dirt and grit from us and cleanses our scrapes with His nail-scarred hands. No matter how far or hard we have fallen, Jesus is there to help us if we will but lift our hands toward Him and confess our wrongdoings. 

Let’s Pray: 

Lord,

Slipping back into sin is easy to do, and sometimes I do not even know I am stumbling until I’ve fallen. When this happens, I feel ashamed and want to hide my face from you. What would a Holy God want with someone who is dirty and falls so easily into sin? But I come to You to confess my sins, to acknowledge that the wrongs I committed have hurt You and are ultimately against You. How weak I am, Lord, and how in need of Your grace! I ask for Your forgiveness, trusting in Your promise that all who confess will be forgiven and washed clean because of the blood of the Savior. Though my sins have stained and darkened me, You make me as pure as snow. I praise You, God, for being there to pick me up when I fall. May I walk in Your strength and grace on the level ground of Your ways.

In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/ilkercelik 

Sophia Bricker is a writer. Her mission is to help others grow in their relationship with Jesus through thoughtful articles, devotionals, and stories. She completed a BA and MA in Christian ministry which included extensive study of the Bible and theology, as well as an MFA in creative writing. You can read her thoughts about literature and faith at The Cross, a Pen, and a Page Substack, or visit the discipleship-based site Cultivate, where she writes with her sister.  

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