Keeping a clean slate

        God provided the opportunity to be apart of a small group book study with a few other ladies from church.  It has been very encouraging study a book on prayer together and be reminded of how much God has given us such a beautiful treasure of communication with Him.  (I have not always valued prayer in this way but it really is a treasure when you understand that it is a gift).  This past week the chapter we studied was on how the Lord's prayer is a pattern for us to use as we pray.  Have you ever wondered how to pray?  This prayer gives good ideas on what kinds of things to pray about. 
       I have read the Lord's prayer numerous times but this time something new stuck out.  One of the other ladies brought it up.  She mentioned how when Jesus says in the prayer "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors" (Matt 6:12, NIV).  That verse paired with how we are to ask God to give us our "daily bread"  (verse 11), helped me see that we are to do this daily.  Everyday we are to confess any unconfessed sin to God and to forgive those who have wronged us.  Wow - what a way to live a freer and less burdened life!  We don't have to carry around the burdens of sins and let them be unresolved.  We can pray each day have a clean slate before God.  This isn't something we are to do on communion Sunday or at church.  We can do it everyday and it actually leads to a freer life with more joy. 
        This may seem like an elementary thing.  But it struck me in a different way this time.  And really helped me as I've been trying to figure out how to sort through hard things that I've experienced in the past.  The longer you've lived this journey called life the more opportunities you will face decides to either hold onto things or to forgive and let them go.  Life can be full of things that if held onto can cause unneeded burden and suck your joy.  But as you bring these things before God, confess, forgive, and let them go, life is restored and you began to experience the life that God meant for us to live.