Clean Hearts

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm‬ ‭51:10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

This is my hearts cry! 

When I read this Psalm, I began to weep because of the sheer power within the words. I felt Gods Spirit stirring within me, not with condemnation but with love and encouragement.

King David wrote this Psalm after sleeping with Bathsheba, the wife of one of his soldiers, Uriah. David had him murdered after failing to get him to come home and sleep with Bathsheba to cover up their infidelity and pregnancy. David was racked with guilt and remorse and knew the only way to redemption was by honestly and sincerely crying out to God for forgiveness, allowing him to work in and on his heart.

If God loved David and called him a man after His own heart, a man that committed adultery then murdered to cover it up, then he must love me in spite of my sin too! As I read on, I understood the way to restoration is through repentance and a contrite heart, a shattered heart, a heart that fully feels the pain and shame of the sins committed and honestly, earnestly seeks forgiveness. 

Is your heart crying out for forgiveness, restoration, a chance for redemption? Read Davids Psalm from The Passion Translation it is beautiful, inspiring and packed full of encouragement. 

I urge you to truly believe that God will never turn away a humble and repentant heart. No matter what sin(s) were committed. 

“God, give me mercy from your fountain of forgiveness! I know your abundant love is enough to wash away my guilt. Because your compassion is so great, take away this shameful guilt of sin. Forgive the full extent of my rebellious ways and erase this deep stain on my conscience. For I’m so ashamed. I feel such pain and anguish within me. I can’t get away from the sting of my sin against you, Lord! Everything I did, I did right in front of you, for you saw it all. Against you, and you above all, have I sinned. Everything you say to me is infallibly true and your judgment conquers me. Lord, I have been a sinner from birth, from the moment my mother conceived me. I know that you delight to set your truth deep in my spirit. So come into the hidden places of my heart and teach me wisdom. Purify my conscience! Make this leper clean again! Wash me in your love until I am pure in heart. Satisfy me in your sweetness, and my song of joy will return. The places you have crushed within me will rejoice in your healing touch. Hide my sins from your face; erase all my guilt by your saving grace. Keep creating in me a clean heart. Fill me with pure thoughts and holy desires, ready to please you. May you never reject me! May you never take from me your sacred Spirit! Let my passion for life be restored, tasting joy in every breakthrough you bring to me. Hold me close to you with a willing spirit that obeys whatever you say. Then I can show other guilty ones how loving and merciful you are. They will find their way back home to you, knowing that you will forgive them. O God, my saving God, deliver me fully from every sin, even the sin that brought bloodguilt. Then my heart will once again be thrilled to sing the passionate songs of joy and deliverance! Lord God, unlock my heart, unlock my lips, and I will overcome with my joyous praise! The fountain of your pleasure is found in the sacrifice of my shattered heart before you. You will not despise my tenderness as I bow down humbly at your feet.” Psalms‬ ‭51:1-15, 17‬ ‭TPT‬‬

David’s honesty and passion is humble and raw. He’s laying it all out there. He knew God had seen all his sins as he committed them. He wasn’t trying to soften what he had done; he was owning his sins. I’m not sure I fully own my sins, how about you? We tend to want to sugarcoat them by justifying why we did what we did, halfheartedly believing it was partly, or mostly someone else’s fault!! We’re selfish and want what we want, be damned the consequences. We try to cover our sins up. Or maybe that’s just me!?!

They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them. Romans 2:15

David asks to be cleansed, and for his heart and lips to be unlocked so he can be joyous again and so he can tell others of what God has done for him, by sharing his testimony and the restorative work God has done in his heart, mind and soul.

Can you allow your sin to be a testimony of Gods goodness and grace? Do you need to ask God to unlock your heart and lips as He did for David? Go Ahead Do It! Bow down at the feet of Jesus. Change your life, be ready for a changed heart and attitude, your joyfulness restored, and amazing and fulfilling relationships with both God and people. The Lord will never turn away anyone honestly and humbly asking for forgiveness. He will produce something new in you as he did in David.

You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. Peter 1:22

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8