A Pure Heart
Psalm 51: 10. “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” NIV
Real sin hurts. Perhaps someone is saying bad things about you. Perhaps your spouse has caught you in an act of infidelity. Maybe you stole money from someone who had no money to spare, or that needed amount was taken from you. The one thing these acts have in common is that they cause real hurt.
God knows about our selfish acts. He knows when we tell ourselves that “we deserve a little fun”. He sees our desire to lash out. He knows our depravity. He feels the pain of rejection in divorce. He knows what it is like to have a friend betray Him. Whether it is we who sin or we are the ones sinned against, God has a solution for us.
“Create in me a pure heart, O God.” pleads the Psalmist. Pure from the desire to sin. Pure from the desire to get even. Pure enough to face up to our own hurtful deeds. Pure enough to forgive those who trespass against us. There is a deep longing in the heart to be pure.
St Paul writes: “For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.” Romans 7:23.
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10. We need to pray that every day upon arising, and every evening as we end our day. We need to ask God to keep us steadfast, and we have to ask it over and over again. There is a war waging within us, calling us to sin, and sin hurts. It hurts badly.
And yet, our hope is ever in God. There is healing in His wings. Thank You, God, that through Jesus Christ our Lord, we find both forgiveness, and the ability to forgive; both a pure heart, and a steadfast spirit within.
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