If you were to distill everything you say in your life down to the most important words, what do you think those words would be?

I offer you in this post three statements each composed of three words each. Each little statement has the power to change your life and those around you.

Statement #1:  “I am sorry”

These three words coming from the heart of a truly penitent person have the potential to heal the pain in someone’s life. When these three words are spoken to God they open up a door to the heart of the Benevolent Saviour Jesus Christ who is always ready to help us to turn away from sin and walk a path of honour.

“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

It can be difficult to say “I am sorry”. Sometimes we delude ourselves into thinking, when things go wrong, that it’s somebody else’s fault.

We are all sinners. “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:8

Let us pray that Jesus gives us the courage to say the words “I am sorry” to God and to one another so we can receive the spiritual healing we need and also offer it to those that we have hurt.

Statement #2:  “I forgive you”

Jesus taught us that “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Matthew 5:7

When injustice occurs, it is natural to enter into a cycle of grief. In that cycle of grief we can experience many emotions including anger. But if we never let the anger go, it becomes like a cancer that infects our entire disposition. Failure to forgive can put us in a state of ongoing depression where all we do is dwell on the sense of injustice and loss.

Let us pray that Jesus gives us the grace to be able to forgive and move on with our life.

“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” Matthew 6:14

If you are struggling to forgive, remember Jesus being crucified praying:  “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34

Forgiveness is freedom.  Be free!

Statement #3:  “I love you”

At the beginning of my spiritual journey, I had a miraculous encounter with God. I was seeking Him and praying, when I heard His voice in my heart. He asked me this question:

“What is love?”

At the time, not being evangelized and not going to Church I answered: “Love is a feeling.” To this, God replied “wrong” in a gentle, kind voice. So I asked God “What is it then?”

God replied, “Love is a choice.”

Illumined by the Holy Spirit, I realized that the type of love God desired did not have to originate with warm feelings in my heart. I realized He was telling me that love is the choice that honours Him. It is the choice that chooses the path that will please Him and give Him glory. It is the choice that does His Will.

We can pray the prayer ‘Our Father’, but the big challenge is living it.  Are we really living “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Jesus told His apostles” “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.”  John 6:38

Jesus struggled in the Garden of Gethsemane knowing that He was about to be killed for our salvation and He prayed:  “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”  Luke 22:42

Choosing to do God’s Will and surrender completely to God with trust and humility requires that we strive to live in a persistent state of spiritual discernment. We must continually ask ourselves is this choice honouring God? Or should I be making a different choice?  Sometimes we may be afraid of going down a path that may cause us to suffer and in those times in particular we need to remember the prayer Jesus prayed:  “Not my will, but yours be done”  Luke 22:42

We also need to consider the choices that we fail to do. Are we making God wait? Or are we living His Plan?

Love is the way that leads to an eternity with God and along that way we will all be challenged to humble ourselves and acknowledge our sins telling God and one another ‘I am sorry’. God will forgive us and we too are called to forgive one another.

Jesus longs for you to tell Him you love Him!  Let Jesus embrace you, love you, forgive you, heal you, teach you and guide you day-by-day, moment-by-moment.

Dear friends of Our Lord Jesus, I pray that Our Saviour opens your heart to His Holy Spirit of discernment. Help us O Lord to understand our shortcomings and to choose the path that leads us to eternal life. Please give us the grace to say ‘I am sorry’, to repent of our sins and to forgive those who have hurt us. We love You Holy Lord! We thank You for Your infinite love. We will stop every day at the time You died for us 3pm (in our local time zones or an alternate time zone) to remember Your Passion and to pray for Your mercy upon all souls. We will pray for a Second Pentecost, for a time of spiritual renewal that will bring healing and restoration to our souls and to our lives so that we may bear the fruit You desire us to bear.  In Your Holy Name Jesus we pray.

Learn more about The Mercy Movement that is uniting Christians all over the world at the Hour of Mercy here.