August 3, 2015: Psalm 51:1-12

Psalm 51:1-12

¹ Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
    blot out my transgressions.
² Wash away all my iniquity
    and cleanse me from my sin.

³ For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is always before me.
⁴ Against you, you only, have I sinned
    and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
    and justified when you judge.
⁵ Surely I was sinful at birth,
    sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
⁶ Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
    you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

⁷ Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
⁸ Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
⁹ Hide your face from my sins
    and blot out all my iniquity.

¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
¹¹ Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.
¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

School is about to start and with it comes a mad dash to organize, clean and prepare. We are digging out all the school clothes and hoping they still fit. We are looking through things to try and figure out what we will have to buy for the girls to get them ready for this new season. We are trying to clean and dust our house. We are trying to clean our yard, and prepare for the changes ahead. It is a time of transition, cleaning, and renewal. Do we ever pause to think about our souls and spiritual life during this time of outward renewal and cleansing?

Psalms 51 does a wonderful job of capturing the need for inward cleansing and renewal of spirit. The psalmist writes “cleanse me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: was me, and I shall be whiter than snow”, he continues and cries out “create in me a pure heart, o God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with a willing spirit.” As we enter spring, I encourage you to take a few moments and ask God to cleanse your heart. Are there things that have crept in that do not belong? Do you have any baggage or old spiritual trash you need to throw away? Have things taken away the joy of God’s salvation in your life?

I offer you this prayer based on psalm 51,

Lord, Create in us clean hearts, Renew your spirit within us. Do not turn us away from your presence, do not take your holy spirit from us. Restore to us the joy of your salvation, and sustain in us a willing spirit. Write on our hearts, your love O God, Amen.