May 6, 2011

Psalm 51
^"1 Have mercy on me, O God,
   according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
    blot out my transgressions.
²Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
   and cleanse me from my sin!
 ³ For I know my transgressions,
   and my sin is ever before me.
⁴ Against you, you only, have I sinned
   and done what is evil in your sight,
 so that you may be justified in your words
   and blameless in your judgment.
⁵Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
   and in sin did my mother conceive me.
⁶Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
   and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
 ⁷Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
    wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
⁸Let me hear joy and gladness;
   let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
⁹ Hide your face from my sins,
   and blot out all my iniquities.
¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God,
   and renew a right spirit within me.
¹¹Cast me not away from your presence,
   and take not our Holy Spirit from me.
¹²Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
   and uphold me with a willing spirit.
 ¹³Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
   and sinners will return to you.
¹⁴Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,
   O God of my salvation,
   and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
¹⁵O Lord, open my lips,
   and my mouth will declare your praise.
¹⁶For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
   you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
¹⁷The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
   a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
 ¹⁸ Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;
    build up the walls of Jerusalem;
¹⁹then will you delight in right sacrifices,
   in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;
   then bulls will be offered on your altar."


This passage is just too good to only write one verse out of.  Verse 5 says, "...and in sin did my mother conceive me."  Raising a child I get to see first hand how we humans have a sinful nature from birth.  Sawyer is naughty, everyday. I am constantly having to correct his behavior and actions.  That is how we are as adults too. I am constantly having to check my words, thoughts, behavior, because it is a daily battle with my flesh. But I absolutely love verse 10. "Create in me a pure heart, and renew a right spirit within me. And He does! Praise Him!
Lord,
Thank you for that heart check you give me and for healing my imperfections, for I am made perfect in you. Amen.
Ronalee