“Create in me a clean heart, O God,”
When I was younger, a missionary journey was offered to me, one that my parents said, “Yes” to, so I traveled with two beautiful missionary women to Zanesville, Ohio. In this setting, we began our work, holding daily Backyard Bible Schools in the park each day for the children. Many kids came.
“Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;
(Psalm 51: 1-4 NASB)
According to the greatness of
Your compassion
blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity
And cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions,
And my sin is ever before me,
Against You,
You only,
I have sinned
And done what is evil in Your sight,
So that You are justified when You speak
And blameless when You judge.”
During this missionary journey, we were given the gift of staying in church member’s homes, so the team leader divided us into small groups and sent us into those homes. I will never forget the beautiful lady who cared for us that week in her home.
Each evening, we attended a “revival” service at the church, an atypical time of worship because the entire church did not attend. One particular night, we sat in a circle, the pastor of the church and the missionary team who had traveled from south-central Kentucky to upper-state Ohio. That’s when the pastor strummed his guitar and taught me the importance of singing KJV Scripture from God’s Word.
Sing with me.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
(Psalm 51: 10-12 King James Version)
Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free spirit.”
Oftentimes in life, I have found myself drawn back to these verses, singing them aloud to God. Today, I found myself there, at the foot of the cross, singing again, asking God to forgive my hard-heartedness toward another.
- We need prayer.
- We need healing.
- We need forgiveness.
- We need help.
- We need saving (from our own selves).
- We need the LORD!
- We can justify our behavior in so many ways, and that’s what I found myself doing as I placed blame elsewhere. We need prayer & We need remembrance of all the sins Jesus died to cleanse with His precious blood.
We need His Abundant Mercy.
We need His Amazing Grace.
Oh, Lord, help us when we stumble to forgive others. As You told Your disciples, we are to forgive others just as You have forgiven us & just as You continue to do.
- Wipe away my mistakes, Lord.
- Wipe my slate clean, just as You have promised us.
- Wipe away my sin, Lord, and forget them as You have promised us in Your Holy Word.
Help me to become more & more & more & more—like You, Lord. It is You, Lord, my sin is against—only YOU!
Father GOD, You are just when You judge me. & FATHER, I thank You for not giving to me that which I deserve—DEATH & SEPARATION from YOU.
Father, I thank You for giving to me that which I can never purchase on my own—YOUR SALVATION—YOUR MERCY & YOUR GRACE!
“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
(Psalm 51: 5-12 NASB)
And in sin my mother conceived me.
[Mankind is born with a sinful nature, even as we come forth from our mother’s womb]
Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being,
And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.
Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me to hear joy and gladness,
Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.
Hide Your face from my sins
And blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
And sustain me with a willing spirit.”
“Mistakes” by Unspoken places into song the thought I am attempting to place into words.
- Please find your earbuds and listen to this melody.
- Please sing along with me as we recall all the times our Lord has forgiven us our sins.
“Nothing greater than Your grace—not even my mistakes.
“Mistakes” by Unspoken
. . .
All of my mistakes, woven through my story
All of the mess I make, God use it for Your glory.”
- As we seek God’s mercy, God’s grace washes over us.
- As we seek God’s forgiveness, we receive this promise: God will forgive us our sins.
- When we ask forgiveness for our sins, the Holy Spirit speaks to our soul.
We are reminded of Jesus’ Great Commission which He gave to those who have accepted Him, believed in His resurrection, and confessed our sins.
“Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
(Psalm 51: 13 NASB)
And sinners will be converted to You.”
Thank You, Father,
for Your Love, Mercy & Amazing Grace
to save a sinner such as me.