Scripture:  Psalm 51:10-12

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.

The New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011. Print.

Devotional Thought:  One of the greatest lies we are led to believe is that we can make amends for our sinful actions, words, and thoughts.  We are misled to believe that by our own power we can blot out the bad and make it better. The reality is that it’s like trying to take a bath in a mudhole.  The more we splash around and try to clean up the worse it gets.  Our intentions are just fine but we are simply unable.  David understood that he was unable to pull himself out of the hole he dug for himself and so he cries to God to “Create in me a pure heart and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”  And what he found was that God was willing and able to do just that.

Prayer Focus:  Rather than trying harder to fix the things that are broken instead pray David’s prayer “Create in me a pure heart and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”