Silence and stillness before God (2 minutes)
Scripture reading
Scripture reading:
Luke 7:44–47
Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.
Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
Devotional
Bitterness can also take the form of judgment — especially when we compare ourselves with others. In Simon the Pharisee’s eyes, this woman was beyond redemption. Her past disqualified her. Her presence offended him.
But Jesus saw something entirely different. He saw a woman who had been forgiven much — and therefore loved much. Her tears weren’t a sign of shame but of healing. Her affection wasn’t inappropriate — it was worship. She had encountered mercy.
Sometimes our own bitterness is aimed inward — rehearsing our past mistakes, convinced we are too far gone. But when we come to Jesus with our whole selves, no matter how broken, He meets us with compassion, not condemnation.
Forgiveness doesn’t just wash away guilt. It releases joy, freedom, and love. We don’t have to stay chained to our past. Like this woman, we are free to weep, to worship, and to walk in grace.
Question to consider
Do you believe that Jesus has forgiven all your sins? What holds you back from receiving that kind of grace?
Prayer
Jesus, thank you that you see my heart, not just my history. Help me receive your forgiveness deeply, and teach me to live with the joy of being fully loved and fully free. Amen.
Conclude with silence (2 minutes)
Session
Title
Scripture
DAILY SEVENS
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Daily Sevens are devotionals to help you connect with God throughout the day. Each Office contains five elements: Silence and Stillness, Scripture, a Devotional Reading, a Question to Consider, and Prayer.
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