“If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”
–1 John 1:8-9 (NLT)

Have you heard of meditation? I’m sure most of you have heard of it, and you may even practice it yourself. How about meditation for dogs? How’s that for a surprise? “Doggy meditation” does exist, and you can listen to it on www.woofswoofs.com. There are several streaming radio stations designed to be heard by humans and dogs alike, and one of them contains nothing but dog meditations, covering everything from relaxing at the groomer’s salon to a visualization of friendly and non-threatening fun at the dog park.

One of the more interesting meditations deals with freedom from ticks, fleas and other parasites. If you’re willing to bear with me and step into a dog’s paws for a few minutes, I’ll summarize the story told within this recording.

You’re running through a grassy field when you feel some irritation spreading all over your skin. There are fleas and ticks everywhere on your body, and their presence makes you more and more nervous. Suddenly you hear and smell water ahead, and you discover a cool and refreshing lake. After a brisk swim, you discover all your unwanted bug companions have disappeared. Furthermore, you are now covered with a shiny, glossy substance that protects you from any further annoyance by pests.

I always thought this story was interesting, even if its actual curative power is extremely doubtful. But when I heard this recording the other day, it made me think about our opening scripture.

Every day, as we hurry through life in this corrupt and confusing world, we commit sins that seem to stick to us, condemning us in the Devil’s eyes. We might tell little white lies or long to own something that we want, or we may catch ourselves thinking angry or judgmental thoughts about someone we encounter. Whatever the case, because of the fallen nature granted to us by Adam and Eve, we are never far away from sin.

However, there is one cure that works much better than the meditation I described. If we take the time to pray to Jesus Christ and ask his forgiveness, he will hear your question and then forgive you of your sins. It’ll be just like swimming in that magic lake, or erasing the data from a recording. Of course you’ll still have to endure the consequences of your sinful actions, but in God’s eyes it will be as though you never sinned at all. It’s important to pray and ask God’s forgiveness at least once a day or before each meal.

The best way to become familiar with the man who died to take away the sins of the world, is to ask Jesus Christ into your life. When you do this, it’s very important that you acknowledge your sins, and declare your desire to turn away from sin. Once Jesus has entered your life, he will always be ready and waiting to hear and forgive your sins.

I encourage you to start your life with Christ today, or re-dedicate yourself to him if you already know him intimately. If you do this, your sins will be freely forgiven, which is truly a wonderful and magical thing.

Thank you for reading this, and may the Lord give you a wonderful week! We are trying to reach people who are hurting, so if God lays it on your heart, please consider becoming a partner with us. If you would like to make a donation, please visit www.hcmachaplains.org and click on the Donate Now link. You may also send your donation to http://www.gofundme.com/tznwnc. Finally, you can send donations by mail to HCMA (Healthcare Chaplains Ministry Association). Our ID number is 560. The address is 377 E. Chapman Ave., Suite 260, Placentia, CA 92870.

If you have questions, comments or prayer requests for Timothy or Stephanie Burdick, please call 641-715-3900, ext. 874157.