You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to You.

Ps 86:5 NIV

Autumn leaves fall,
They tumble to the ground,
Laying a rich carpet,
Of red, gold and brown.

Paths need clearing,
Its slippy underfoot,
The pavement can be treacherous,
Disguising potholes and roots.

It’s an ongoing task,
To keep the walkway clear,
To enable a safe, sure passage,
That all may proceed with good cheer.

Gracious God, in the season of Autumn, it seems that no sooner have we cleared pathways and drives of leaves, than the wind gusts and we have to start afresh and sweep up all over again.

Loving God, in a similar way, our lives can become cluttered and littered with things we have done or said that we know are wrong or we regret; they play on our mind and sit uncomfortably on our heart and steal our peace and joy.

We thank You dear Lord, that we can turn to You every day and tell you about anything we are sorry for, knowing in advance, that in Jesus, we have the promise and assurance of complete and total forgiveness.

Gracious God, we thank You for the wonderful gift of forgiveness.  Help us to be quick to forgive others and ourselves as You forgive us in Jesus.  As we seek and receive forgiveness, may we be filled with the refreshment and peace of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Ruth Rushworth