Tuesday, September 27, 2022

How’s Your Heart? Clean?

Prayer – 🎵 Create in me a clean heart, oh Lord, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence, oh Lord, and don’t take Your Holy Spirit from me. Show me anything in my heart that is displeasing to You.

Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just. For I was born a sinner—yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there. Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me--now let me rejoice. Don't keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don't take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you. Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness. Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may praise you. You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. Look with favor on Zion and help her; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit—with   burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings. Then bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar. Psalm 51:1-19

Meditate. Have you sinned against God, broken any of the Ten Commandments? Have you repented?

This Psalm was written by David after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba. He knew he had done wrong. He repentantly pleaded with God for merciful forgiveness—for his sin and guilt to be removed. This is classic scripture that has been written into lyrics of songs. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. David was truly repentant—and as he drew close to God, God drew close to Him. His repentant spirit is what I think allowed God to think of David as a man after God’s own heart.

But God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said, 'I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.' Acts 13:22

Additionally, the Lord doesn’t want burnt offerings—but offerings of a broken and repentant heart with a right spirit. That is just what David sacrificial offered the Lord. Can we do any less? Set things right with God today—renew a right spirit within yourself towards God. How do you do that? Pray. How is your heart? Forgiven? Clean?

Verse of Salvation ~ Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Psalm 51:12

Memory Verse of the Week ~ Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.  Matthew 6:33

© 2022 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.
New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

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