Tag: God’s Word

Uphold me with a willing spirit.

Psalm 51: 7-12

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
    wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins,
    and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
    and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence,
    and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
    and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Uphold me with a willing spirit.

There are days (and weeks and months) where I need to be held up. Have you been through a season like that? It’s those days when relationships, health, finance, or work challenges are just too much.

Thank God that He sees and knows and sends His reinforcements! He lets us know He is there is so many ways: from taking care of the smallest details to sending the right people to us at just the right time. There are so many ways God holds us up and lifts us up. Sometimes, however, I am guilty of not allowing Him to uphold me. I get comfortable in a cranky place.

Lord, grant me a willing spirit Uphold me in faith with the joy of your salvation! Amen.

Take not your Holy Spirit from me

Psalm 51: 7-12

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
    wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins,
    and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
    and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence,
    and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
    and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Take not your Holy Spirit from me.

Another gut wrenching plea. The weight of our sin in unbearable except for Jesus’ work.

But, if I am honest, sometimes the weight of my sin doesn’t impact me to the core as much as someone else’s. How could that be? I think it is my sinful nature coming through along with the whispering lies of satan.

I am confident in God’s love, care, and provision for me. I am very confident. And yet I vacillate between the gravity of my sin and the work done for me. It’s difficult to hold both of those at the same time.

Do you struggle with this, too?

Restore to me the joy of your salvation.

Psalm 51: 7-12

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
    wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins,
    and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
    and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence,
    and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
    and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation.

It’s been a long few years. And things are getting a little more unsettled with what is happening in Europe. Whether or not we are experiencing the same challenges as our neighbors, it is disheartening to watch things around us.

Internal joy is not dependent on external circumstances. And, of course, the joy of salvation is such a different thing altogether. It’s above and beyond and yet I don’t think I consider it on a daily basis.

The joy of your salvation.

The word restore indicates that the joy has been there. Being separated from God should break us. And that brokenness makes us miserable. And that is evident to those around us.

Joy is contagious! And the joy of salvation? It’s certainly a cause for celebration. And once you know that particular joy, knowing that you have separated yourself from it can rock you to your core.

Lord, let me comprehend the weight of my sin but, in confession to You, bring it all. And allow You to wash it clean, renew my spirit, and restore my joy! Amen.

Cast me not away from your presence.

Psalm 51: 7-12

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
    wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins,
    and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
    and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence,
    and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
    and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Cast me not away from your presence.

On one hand, I can’t imagine how desperate a place David must have been to say this. On the other hand, I certainly can. When we knowingly run headfirst into sin and then the shame and regret and remorse sets in. Not to mention all of the other consequences.

A true confession offers a humble position with no attempt to wiggle out of what comes next. The guilty knows that they deserve to be cast out.

We know David wrote this Psalm as a confession after he sinned with Bathsheba. And it is a Psalm that is used in prayerful ways in churches around the world.

Who or what is my Bathsheba?

We all have at least one. One place in our hearts or lives that is weak spot. A scenario where we regularly trip up. A situation where we are vulnerable to the grip of sin.

Lord, open my eyes to see the seriousness of my sin. Let me recognize the gravity and let me recognize that Jesus’ work on the cross allows me to be in your presence. Thank you for bridging the gap for me. Amen.

Renew a right spirit within me.

Psalm 51: 7-12

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
    wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins,
    and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
    and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence,
    and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
    and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Renew a right spirit within me.

I can count on God for many things, but this is vital for me. Never mind that the world rarely encourages a “right spirit” but I find I am fighting my own mind in this. God sets me straight and my mind wanders off immediately, filled with “wrong spirit” thoughts.

If only I …

If only he …

Why does she always …

There are countless situations that call for grace and mercy and I withhold them like I am having supply chain issues.

Forgiveness?

Well, I don’t know, have they groveled enough?

Somewhere, within me is a right spirit. I know because it has been renewed, time and time again. The sooner I notice a broken or “wrong spirit” and take it to my Heavenly Father, the sooner He can renew it.

Recognizing my issue is an important piece. My confession is another vital component. God’s work is more easily accomplished when I have some awareness of my sinfulness and I go to Him for renewal.

God can renew because He made us new creations in the first place. Daily confession. Daily renewal. There is no supply chain issue with our Creator!

Create in me a clean heart.

Psalm 51: 7-12

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
    wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins,
    and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
    and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence,
    and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
    and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Create in me a clean heart.

I love that God is in the business of creating. He takes something from nothing. He takes something wretched and renews it. He takes old bones and breathes life into them. If we look closely at what is going on around us, we will see His creative work.

Here, in southern Indiana, we are experiencing Spring. For me, Spring is a season but also a perspective. I feel rejuvenated. All of creation is abuzz. For some reason, it is easier for me to notice God’s work in the world but also His work on me. He creates

a clean heart …

a new perspective …

the ability to forgive …

opportunities to show His love …

Thank you, Lord, for my clean heart. You scrub the old, crusty, and cantankerous parts away and clean me up. Let me see others through a clean heart today.

Blot out all my iniquities.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
    wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins,
    and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
    and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence,
    and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
    and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Blot out all my iniquities.

I am either tormented about my sins or I blissfully carry on in them. I wish there was a middle ground. When I am “in a mood” I notice everyone else’s. And, when I am really broken, I try to prevent God’s grace from washing over me.

I have not struggled with whether or not my sins are forgivable. But I do often struggle with the domino effect of my actions — the pain and hurt others experience because of my selfishness. Unfortunately, those consequences are sometimes set in motion and cannot be undone.

I am so thankful for God’s forgiveness. His action. His blotting of all my iniquities!

Purge me with hyssop.

Psalm 51: 7-12
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
    wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins,
    and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
    and renew a right[b] spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence,
    and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
    and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Purge me with hyssop.

We don’t typically request to be purged with hyssop these days. Hyssop was commonly used to treat leprosy back in Bible times. But I use the word “purge” frequently. And it is definitely an intense action.

I need to purge the junk that I haven’t sorted through during the last few moves. But purging also happens at an ugly level. I have heard of the Holocaust referred to as a purging of the Jewish people. What a sad use of the word. What an ugly time in history. I don’t believe people are meant to be purged.

However, if it has to do with me and my own sin, purge is the word that applies. Purge is a harsh word. It’s drastic action. But, with sin, it is good to get to the root and be as complete as possible.

Cleanse.

Wash.

Purge.

Thank you, Lord, for your action. Each day I start anew.

Teach me wisdom.

Psalm 51:1-6

Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
    blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
    and cleanse me from my sin!

3 For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
    and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
    and blameless in your judgment.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
    and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
    and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

Teach me wisdom.

I can guarantee that God has been keeping up His end of the bargain on the teaching end. But, you know how it goes, there is some responsibility on the learner. Being open to the teachings is incredibly important. It’s critical. Sometimes my own roadblocks and attitude prevent me from learning. Sometimes there are disappointments and life challenges that interrupt my ability to listen to and learn from God.

My prayer is that my heart is open to God’s wisdom and discernment. That God continues to teach me through His Word. And that I would release any improper assumptions about Him and that I am open to learning from Him.

Cleanse me from my sin!

Psalm 51:1-6

Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
    blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
    and cleanse me from my sin!

3 For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
    and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
    and blameless in your judgment.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
    and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
    and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

Cleanse me from my sin!

Why is it that it is so much easier to see and address the sins of others and not my own? Maybe it is a combination of my own sinful nature and an effective distraction from satan. If I am so busy looking at everyone else’s sin, I have little time to examine my own. But, unexamined sin leads to a greater separation from the One who can cleanse us.

Look what we miss out on if we ignore or pass over our own sin! We miss the reconciliation and the relief of God’s grace and mercy. This cleansing business is repeated work. It’s a bit like dishes and laundry, it’s always there. But, our daily acknowledgement and awareness helps us not get so far stuck in the depths of sin. I don’t think the point is for me to be stuck in the “poor, miserable sinner” mode but to be celebrating the work of our Savior! Look at what He has done for us!

It’s cold and we are getting ready for another winter storm. There are things happening in the world that are out of my control. But, I know God loves me and He is providing for me every day. He restores my soul and cleanses me from my sin! I am so thankful!