It happened so quickly. The words flew out of my mouth before I could lasso them back. There was no way to take them back. I prayed her ears did not hear it, but I couldn’t tell. I held my breath.
I was tired. I didn’t mean to say those words! The minute I heard myself say it I thought, “Oh no! I’m becoming one of those grumpy old women!”
And then I began to rethink all those sitcoms where the mother-in-law lashes out hurtful words. Ugh.
Thankfully, this time the recipient didn’t seem to catch my snarky remark, but there have been other times when my words have hurt someone I loved.
We are so human aren’t we?
We just have those moments when we don’t handle situations well. Some big. Some small.
Sometimes we are the offender, but sometimes we’re the one who is offended, hurt by another human who has “not so good” moments too. Even if the pain was intentional, the old saying is so true, “Hurting people, hurt people.”
We’re a mess! (Some of us a hot mess.)
Yet there is hope. His name is Jesus. And He came to redeem our messy self.
Read David’s words in Psalm 103.
Did you read the last verse? It promises that Jesus redeems our life from the pit.
I’ve been in some pits before. How about you? Sometimes I’ve voluntarily crawled into that pit after I’ve did or said something I regretted.
However, this scripture promises redemption.
According to Webster, redeem has many meanings. Here are a few:
To repurchase, to win or get back, to free from what distresses or harms, to free from captivity or pay ransom, clear a blame or debt, or to help overcome something detrimental, to make good, to offset the bad effect, to make worthwhile.
I really love this word. It’s been employed in many prayers I’ve prayed when I couldn’t take back less than good words, actions or decisions.
Especially when my kids were small. I prayed it a lot then!
The Book of Ruth Bible Study
I wrote about it in my Ruth Bible study, which is all about redemption.
Here’s an excerpt:
A few years back I was stuck on the word redeem. I don’t know why. I don’t remember if I participated in a Bible study about redemption or a song on the radio brought this concept to the forefront of my brain. Maybe it was a sermon. I can’t recall. But I do know that somewhere, somehow, I began to pray for God to redeem my daily mistakes—big and small.
I began to live with the peace and assurance that Jesus could and would redeem the painful words I lashed out to my kids on bad mommy days. I simply prayed with a very repentant, grieving heart, “God, please redeem it.”
That prayer has never ceased from my lips. I’ve needed it some days more than others. I think I’ll have to keep praying it as long as I’m human, covered in skin, in need of oxygen. Though I hope in time my spirit becomes less me and more like Jesus.
Every mistake, silly to serious, such as misspelling a literary agent’s name or adopting a puppy even with the likelihood my son’s allergies would flare up (which they did) or the huge blunder of hurting a friend’s heart—I’ve watched God redeem.
He takes those bad mistakes and uses them for something good, better, healthier. He’s not only redeemed me every day for eternity… He redeems my everyday. (Excerpt from The Book of Ruth Key Word Bible Study: A 31-day Journey to Hope and Promise).
Please Redeem It, Lord!
What about you? have you messed up lately? You’re not alone. But we have a Redeemer. Let’s give our failures to Him. He can take what’s bad and make something good of it. I’ve seen it! I promise.
All we have to do is pray this simple prayer, “Redeem it, Lord! Please!”
Sounds too easy, doesn’t it? Well, that my friends is called grace. We don’t earn His redemption. We simply pray for it–for those messy moments we want to take back. Jesus can do something better. He can use them for good.
Bite of Bread Bible Reading Plan and Printable
Ephesians 1:7: In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.
Prompt: In the definition above, in order for something to be redeemed it’s paid for. Here’s the definitions: To repurchase, to win or get back, to free from what distresses or harms, to free from captivity or pay ransom, clear a blame or debt, or to help overcome something detrimental, to make good, to offset the bad effect, to make worthwhile. Jesus did all that for us with His life. Write a prayer asking to understand this in new ways and how it affects not only your eternity but your today.
Isaiah 44:22: I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.”
Prompt: I think it’s so amazing that God redeems us before we are good. We don’t have to do anything accept return to Him. If you’re feeling like you’ve messed up, all you need to do is return it back to God. Pray, “Lord, here’s my mess. Here’s my sin. Here’s the words I can’t take back. I return myself and my mistakes to you. Redeem please.”
Reading Plan Printable
Psalm 107:2: Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
Prompt: Testify today! Tell somebody how Jesus has redeemed your life. :)
1 Corinthians 1: 26-30 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called.Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
Prompt: I love these verses. Read it several times. I love how it reminds us that God uses the weak, the foolish, the ordinary, and the things “that are not to nullify the things that are.” It is because of God’s kindness and wisdom that we’ve been redeemed. Thank Him for your weakness and need for Him today.
Grab the Printable for Your Quiet Time
Revelation 1: 5-6 . . . and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood– and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father–to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Prompt: What did Christ make us when He redeemed us? We are a kingdom and priests serving God. Intentionally worship Him today and ask the Lord how you can serve Him as one of His priests today. We are redeemed!
Wednesday Night Live!
If you happen to have the night free, I’d love for you to join me on Facebook for a live teaching on redemption. We’ll break down some of these verses and dig deeper to better understand the freedom and grace of God. I’ll be on at 7:30 PM ET. Put on your stretchy pants, snuggle up with a blanket and hot drink, and bring your Bible! Here’s an example of what we do. This was a and teaching on worry.
Digging Deep,
Andy
P.S. This post first published in Feb. 2017. (But I added the reading plan!) It’s been a favorite.
This story is about feeling better when we make mistakes. It tells us that when we do something wrong or say something we wish we didn’t, Jesus can help us feel better. We all have hard times, but God can make good things happen even from our mistakes. We just need to pray and believe in His kindness. This message helps us remember to trust God every day. Thanks for sharing.
Hey Julie, thanks for stopping by! Yes, Jesus can redeem our mistakes. Oh how we need Him! XO Andy
[…] have two favorite prayers. One is for God to redeem and the other is for God’s grace. God gives us His grace everyday- His grace of patient […]
Thank you Andy, I have recently messed up. If you could pray with me and for me. God is good.
Hi Nikki, I do pray the Lord will redeem it! He is so faithful. Looking forward to hearing how He redeems your messy moment. Remember, we all have them. XO-Andy
[…] The Redeemer loves you. He sees what we cannot see and knows what we could never know. When a flat tire causes you to be late, perhaps that flat tire kept you from an accident. When you don’t get the job you so desperately want, God has a better job for you. I’ve experienced a few heartaches in my life I have not been able to find good in, but I found peace when I trusted His goodness and Romans 8:28 even when I couldn’t understand. I had to trust. […]
Thank you Andy. What a wonderful and timely message in this season of my life. God brought an amazing and wonderful woman into my life and I let her down in a major way. Now I’m fervently praying for God to clean up the colossal mess that I’ve made. Do I deserve anything? No I do not. I have asked forgiveness from her as well as God. I just pray that she’ll see that I’m a changed man and come back to me. Any prayer would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Charles, I can so relate to what you’re going through. I will be praying for you and praying the Lord will redeem your mistakes. He is a good God. Give it to Him. Trust Him. Focus on Him. Thanks for stopping by! -Andy
Thank you. I needed this. Something has been bothering me lately and I can feel my heart is heavy for what I have done.
Please pray in earnest for me. I’ve messed up.
I am praying for you, Nancy. God is faithful. He will redeem and restore as you trust Him. Praying for your peace.
April 09,2020
Thank you, Andy…… I really feel like God directed me to your site today. Blessings to you and hope that you and your family remain safe during this time.
Powerful message, Andy. Love this thought: “I began to pray for God to redeem my daily mistakes—big and small.”
Thank you, Karen! You are such an encourager. Thanks for stopping by!
What a blessing to come across this post! I was talking to a friend this morning who unintentionally hurt someone with her words and I was looking for a prayer to help her. I immediately saw this post and it spoke directly to my heart. I shared it with her, and on my Facebook. Thank you for these grace filled words. You have gained a new reader today! Blessings to you!
Hi Rebecca! I love when God does that! Thanks so much for sharing the post and subscribing! I pray you find a lot of encouraging posts! Blessings!
Such wisdom. I needed to read it today … and yesterday … and I’ll need it tomorrow despite my best efforts. Thank you, Andy.
Join the club, my friend! Thanks for stopping by!
This was a wonderful word for today – a day when I feel like everything I’ve said and done over the past week has offended (unintentionally, mostly) those around me that I love and others in ministry with me. When I feel like I’ve let other people down by my choices, even though they are appropriate for me and my circumstances, but others don’t feel the same way, this is a good prayer for restoration of the relationships. Thank you for the encouragement!
I so understand,Ray! I’m praying this prayer along similar circumstances. So thankful that He redeems! I’ll be praying for you. Thanks for sharing!
Even though this passage doesn’t use the word “redeem” I can hear the echo of it throughout the inlaid promise.
“So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, The crawling locust, The consuming locust, And the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, And praise the name of the Lord your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; And My people shall never be put to shame. Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the Lord your God And there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame.
Joel 2:25-27 NKJV
http://bible.com/114/jol.2.25-27.NKJV
Thank you Samantha! That passage is all about Gods redemption! Amen!
I would love for Samantha to post her Scripture in Treasured Truths. This one is perfect for today!
Wonderful post. It is so comforting to know we are redeemed and forgiven time and again.
God bless.
Thank you, Victor! It is comforting. The prayer for God to redeem my mistakes brings me peace. I can’t, but He can. Hallelujah! Thanks for stopping by and sharing your faith. It’s so encouraging.
Hi, I made aistake of giving wrong dose of Subcut Clexane to a patient. I feel so horrible, depressed and anxious. I don’t understand how I made a mistake. Pls pray for me that the patient is well n it doesn’t go to the upper authority.I really need him at this moment. I don’t understand what’s happening in my job. All of a sudden I’m making mistakes n manager, senior manager, nurse clinician has seen me before, I don’t want this to repeat. It’s happening all of a sudden. I don’t understand, I need his mercy n grace n favour.
Dear Ruth, I do pray the medicine didn’t harm your patient and for protection and grace at your job. Pray for God to redeem this. He is so good. Focus on worshiping him. He loves you.
I love redemption, too. He does make all things new when we ask (and sometimes even when we don’t). Thanks for this great reminder.
Hi Cheryl! You’re such a kindred spirit. Thanks for dropping by and leaving your thoughts.