” Come let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow.” (Isaiah 1:18) Real forgiveness requires communication. God calls us to “come and reason” with Him. We have to talk. We have to be honest. We have to listen. I used to pray the Lord’s prayer as a blanket request. “Forgive me my sins(all of them). It was a magic bullet! I didn’t have to be specific. I didn’t have to regret or even admit my part in the mess that we humans have made of God’s world. I realize, now, my mistake. Jesus was teaching us to come into God’s presence for honest conversation re. our failures. In prayer, I am to lance the wound of my actions and attitudes and patterns and pride. When I do, His healing love flows in to wash it all away. Think about it. The cleansing power of the cross requires communication.
