“For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.”
—Hebrews 8:12 ESV

I once heard the story of a woman who told her pastor that she could discern God’s voice in her times of prayer. The pastor was a bit skeptical about that sort of thing and believed the woman was lying, so he challenged her: “Okay; the next time you pray, ask God what sins I committed the day before and tell me his answer.”

The pastor assumed that would put an end to the matter and happily went his way. The next day he was surprised to receive a call from the woman, who excitedly explained that she had asked God the question.

“And what did he answer?” the pastor quietly interrogated. The woman replied, “He said: ‘I don’t remember.’”

Hebrews 8:12 (ESV) reminds us of what God promised to the prophet Jeremiah: “I will remember their sins no more.”

Theologians debate whether this means that God literally forgets our sins or if he simply chooses not to bring them to mind any longer. In either case, it is clear that he will never again bring our sins to his conscious awareness.

Regarding our relationship with him, it is as if our past mistakes no longer existed.

Take a moment to let that soak in.

How would your relationship with God change if you actually believed that he didn’t remember your sins?

You would probably pray with more confidence and stop beating yourself up for your past mistakes.

In other words, you would be freer and closer to God than ever before.

Here is a short prayer to carry with you today:

Breathe in: You don’t bring my sins to mind;
Breathe out: Neither will I.