Today is the 6th day of Lent.        The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.       Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”         Today’s reading is from Psalm 32       Blessed is the one         whose transgressions are forgiven,         whose sins are covered.   2 Blessed is the one         whose sin the Lord does not count against them         and in whose spirit is no deceit.   3 When I kept silent,         my bones wasted away         through my groaning all day long.   4 For day and night         your hand was heavy on me;   my strength was sapped         as in the heat of summer.  5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you         and did not cover up my iniquity.   I said, “I will confess         my transgressions to the Lord.”   And you forgave         the guilt of my sin.   6 Therefore let all the faithful pray to you         while you may be found;   surely the rising of the mighty waters         will not reach them.   7 You are my hiding place;         you will protect me from trouble         and surround me with songs of deliverance.       This Psalm shows two ways of dealing with our sinfulness. We can keep silent… Or, we can ‘acknowledge our sin to God’. Which of those is more natural to you? Do you have a regular time and safe space for confession? Or, do you tend to hold those things in, keeping them private, or even secret?       As you listen to the psalm again, pay attention to the weightiness in the first few verses… describing what happens when we ‘keep silent’… and to the change in tone when the psalmist describes what happens after he acknowledges His sins, and stops covering up…       Blessed is the one         whose transgressions are forgiven,         whose sins are covered.   2 Blessed is the one         whose sin the Lord does not count against them         and in whose spirit is no deceit.   3 When I kept silent,         my bones wasted away         through my groaning all day long.   4 For day and night         your hand was heavy on me;   my strength was sapped         as in the heat of summer.  5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you         and did not cover up my iniquity.   I said, “I will confess         my transgressions to the Lord.”   And you forgave         the guilt of my sin.   6 Therefore let all the faithful pray to you         while you may be found;   surely the rising of the mighty waters         will not reach them.   7 You are my hiding place;         you will protect me from trouble         and surround me with songs of deliverance.      We often think that by covering up, by hiding, we will feel safest. But that’s not true. When we speak out what is real… even the difficult things… we find ourselves experiencing more intimacy with God. Christians throughout the centuries have found incredible freedom in practicing confession with others. James tells us to “confess our sins to each other and pray for each other that you may be healed.” Today, you may want to ask for courage to practice confession, not just to God, but through a trusted friend, or pastor, or priest.       Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your holy Spirit from me. Give me the joy of your saving help again and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.        Music: Pour it Out - Vineyard Worship (Db Major) Pour It Out (feat. Kelly Anderson) 

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