A Clean Heart

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit." Psalm 51:10-12





My conscience isn't always clear. My motives aren't always pure. My selfishness often drives my thoughts, actions, and speech. Do I want to be this way? Not usually, but in the moment, it's exactly what I want to be doing. My sinful nature draws all of my attention to myself. All I can see is my own dark, dirty, filthy heart, and some days I'm not even bothered by it.

It's a good thing I am not saved or restored by myself.

I know who I am. I'm a sinner. But I also know a lot more than that from what God tells me in His Word.

He has given me a clean heart, washed by the blood of Jesus. Because of His death, I am completely forgiven, and my heart is made new.
God renews me by giving me His own spirit. His spirit is right - perfect and holy - and it is through the gift of God in me, His spirit, that I can live an upright, Christian lifestyle. I can't do it on my own. I need a right spirit. His spirit. And I have it.
I am not worthy of God's love, nor am I worthy to be in His presence. And yet, God doesn't cast me away. Not only that, He draws me nearer to Himself! Jesus' death on the cross has closed that gap between me and God. He brings me, His beloved child, closer to Himself. In His eyes, through the blood of Christ, we are perfect.

God keeps all of His promises, and we know that we have eternal life as Christians. It's easy to get caught up in the stress and worries of each day. It's easy to get caught up in selfish lifestyle and seemingly harmless habits that gunk up our hearts. But in His Word, God declares His promises to us. He tells us of His love for us, His children. He tells of His plan to bring us back to Him, of His Son, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross in our place so that we are now forgiven. He tells us of His Spirit who dwells in us.

God gives us the joy, complete joy, of knowing we have salvation through Jesus. We are saved! We have every reason to be filled with God's gift of JOY. Our strength is in the Lord. He supplies our will, our passion, and our drive. He upholds us, renews us, restores us, and most importantly, He has redeemed us.