Psalm 51

"Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin." Psalm 51:1-2

This is the Psalm I turn to, when I am feeling the crush of heartache. When I have sinned and am feeling alone, isolated from God. That is where David was, when he penned it; crushed, isolated.

"For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight - that You may be found just when You speak, and blameless when You judge. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me." Psalm 51:3-5

As many times as I have read this Psalm; as many times as I have turned to it for guidance and comfort; as many times as I have meditated on it and made it my prayer;  I have never noticed the following verse. This morning it jumped off the page at me!

"Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom." Psalm 51:6

It has been my desire for sometime now, to get as close to God as I can! Reading this Psalm puts me right on the road to repentance!


"Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness, that the bones You have broken may 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 up hold me by Your generous Spirit." Psalm 52:7-12

When you pray this prayer to God, don't expect Him to just pat you on the head and say, "okay, that's nice, lets move on!" No! God is a God of action and will take you at your word! If you truly desire to draw closer to Him; if you truly desire to walk in His ways; if you truly desire to be used by Him; it going to get uncomfortable!

He's calling for a Church that is spotless; Holy as He is Holy! Yes, and it is the Blood of Jesus that cleanses us from all unrighteousness. But that blood must be applied! You can be saved, and sanctified and still be holding onto baggage from your past that He wants you to be free of; unforgiveness is the biggest bag most carry;  whether it be against someone else or yourself.

When you pray, "Create in me a clean heart", expect Him to do just that. He will put the desire for you to have a clean heart, in you and won't let you rest until you do!!! You will want Him to shine His light into the closets of your heart where you have hidden all of your hurts and then He will require you to take them out, dust them off, and deal with them, once and for all.  In the past you would only take them out to stroke them; to justify the pain and injustice, and then put them back in the dark recesses to save for another pity party! Oh, and we are not just talking recent adult injuries; we go way back. These hurts are the ones from childhood that have shaped us into the adult we've become. Hurts that we have built walls around; made shrines to; used as the excuse for every terrible thing that has occurred in our life!

"Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom."

Okay, God! I'm ready, let's get this show on the road. I know it's gonna hurt, but I know You have a balm! I know you want to, and will heal these injuries to my inner man and that I will be stronger and more useful to You when we are finished!  I'm willing!  In other words, Your will, not mine!

Even so - MARANATHA!