October 13, 2021

Psalm 51:10-12
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.


Notice David’s requests to God in these three verses. “Create in me a pure heart . . . Restore to me . . . Grant me a willing spirit...”  What stands out to me is how utterly dependent David is in each of those examples. A piece of art has no power to create itself. A classic car cannot do its own restoration. A grant is given, not earned. In each of these requests, David sees himself as merely the recipient of God’s benevolence and mercy.
 
Take a few minutes to think about the things you cannot seem to change about yourself. Think of interactions you regret, fears you cannot shake, and habits you cannot change. These are the areas where confession opens the door to transformation. 
 
On Friday, we will take a look at how repentance, which requires our action, differs from confession which does not. But today, read verses 10-12 again thinking specifically about attitudes, addictions, and anxieties that plague you. Instead of determining to work harder or do better in those areas, read these verses as an invitation for God to begin a transformative work. 
 
Psalm 51:10-12 
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.