clean heart ~ a look at Psalm 51

Probably my favorite psalm is Psalm 51.  It’s my favorite for a lot of reasons, but mostly because it is a song of repentance.  If you grew up in church, or even if you didn’t, I’m sure you know the story of King David’s fall into sin with Bathsheba.  The Bible describes in 2 Samuel 11 a time when David lusted after a woman, Bathsheba, impregnated her, lied to cover it up, killed her husband, and then broke Jewish tradition and married Bathsheba.  I’m sure the day he married Bathsheba he breathed a sigh of relief.  The secret of his sin was safe.  That is until Nathan, the prophet, openly rebuked David for his sin. 

As a result, David was broken, embarrassed, ashamed.  But he was also repentant.  During this time of brokenness he wrote, “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from Your presence, and don’t take Your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and make me willing to obey.  Then I will teach (or sing, or declare, or play) Your ways to rebels, and they will return to You…You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.  You do not want a burnt offering.  The sacrifice You desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.” (Psalm 51:10-17, NLT)

I can’t even imagine how humbling this experience would have been.  I can’t imagine the depth of David’s brokenness.  I can’t imagine the pain.  But David’s brokenness came as a result of his own personal exultation.  David got a little bit too big for his britches.

After all, he was David the giant slayer.  He was David the conqueror.  He was David the King of the greatest nation of that time.  He could do whatever he wanted.  He was the chosen one.  God chose him.  God deposed the first king, Saul, and established him as king.

But now, David, nothing more than a broken man, crawls in humility to the throne.  He asked for forgiveness.  He asked for mercy.  He asked for grace.  He repented.  He changed.  And he found God again.

I see myself so much in this story.  I’m not talking about the adultery, but the haughty, puffy attitude that David showed.  God forgive me for having that attitude.  

Every position we have...every gift God has given us...every talent He’s placed in our hands...is a responsibility.  It’s an obligation.  It’s a calling.  It’s a mission.  That gift is not for our own glory.  Even if we use our talents outside of a church building—which we should by the way—it’s still not for our glory.  Everything He has given for our hands to do is to point people back to God…to His love…to His truth.  It is our primary objective to lead people into the presence of God.

David had a calling on his life.  God chose him to be king because He trusted David with His people.  God has a calling on your life.  And you know what, just like David you're going to mess up.  If you're called to be a mom, you're going to yell at your kids.  You're going to have arguments with your spouse.  Of course you are.

Our ability to fail is not really an option.  It will happen.  Our response to our failures will define the outcome of our lives.

Let God use the brokenness in your life to reform you.  Run to Him and you will find Him.

"...when you pray, I will listen.  If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.  I will be found by you...I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes..."

Jeremiah 29:12-14

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the lament of a night owl

via

Mornings are really rough for me. I remember a time that I could stay up as late as I wanted without any worry of the morning, but not any more. The terrible part is I much prefer the night. No, not the darkness.  The night.  The night where the stars sparkle across water and streams and sky.  The night still glows--just in a different way. It glitters...and glitter has always caught my eye.

But that's beside the point.  Every night I practice the same routine. I do my devotions (because there's no way I'm going to be able to wake up in the morning with enough time to do spend with Jesus.)  Usually participate in some form of exercise.  And I always set my alarm to get up early the next morning.  Well, it's early for me.  But alas, when the sun peaks into my room and the sound of life returns to earth, I'd much prefer the comfort of my covers to the glowing reality waiting out there in the world.

Curious, I know. Right now, in this unending winter, there are few things I can imagine more prefect than the warmth of the sun kissing my cold skin except possibly the ocean's waves licking my toes.  Still yet, mornings are rough.

Oh, if only I loved mornings I could traipse around the fields behind my house enjoying the beauty of nature as she comes awake.

If only I loved mornings I could enjoy the cup of coffee seated and resting instead of on the road to my next destination.

If only I loved mornings I could glimpse the orange sun as her rays warm the hard wood floor.

But I don't enjoy them...not at all.  At least not before eight o'clock and then I enjoy them just fine.

For all the trouble that they are, there is one thing about mornings that makes them forever close to my heart.  It's the newness that they bring.

I can't change the past, but I can change today.  Right here, this moment and every moment still to come, is waiting for me to discover.  They may be already written in God's book of history, but I still win the discoverer's treasure as they unfold before my eyes.  The morning calls us to life.  The morning brings new hope.  The morning is about the future.

From what I know about mornings the future is looking pretty bright.  No, mornings are never easy, but they are always bright.

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.

Psalm 30:5

Linking Up
Cornerstone Confessions

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in You I'm planted + free printable

When life is terrible and I feel tossed and shaken, I have to find myself repeating the words of David.

"Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord and who meditates on His law day and night.  That person is like a tree planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither--whatever they do prospers."                         ~Psalms 1:1-3 

I have to plant myself in His Word...in His promise...in Him alone.

Linking Up With

Whimsy Wednesdays

Wow Me Wednesdays

Wow Us Wednesdays

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No Sermon Needed

Sometimes we forget that God's Word is God's word.  He inspired it.  It's directly God breathed for our encouragement, teaching, correction, and comfort.  To try and add something to make His Word more clear is kinda...well...arrogant.

In recent weeks I've felt like I've been in a cloud partly because it's insane in my life right now, partly because it's blistering hot outside, and partly because of some emotional grief that I'm working through.  But in spite of the insanity in my life, I'm standing on the promise of these next verses and believing that as I trust God He will make me more than a conqueror.

I hope they encourage you.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  These have come so that our faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

1 Peter 1: 6,7

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.  Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you.  This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be save--and that by God.

Philippians 1:27,28

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.  But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:12-14

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus

Philippians 4: 6,7

The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

Proverbs 15: 4

The Lord detests men of perverse heart but He delights in those whose ways are blameless.

Proverbs 11: 20

But as for me, it is good to be near God.  I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.

Psalm 73: 28

You might also want to check out Psalm 1, Psalm 119, Proverbs 3: 5,6, Psalm 27, Psalm 35 just to share a few.  Ultimately, we have to remember to take into authority every idle thought that exalts itself above the knowledge of Christ (2 Cor. 10:5).  I am a daughter of God through Christ Jesus.  I am a joint heir through Christ Jesus.  I am victorious through Christ Jesus.  I have power through Christ Jesus.

Have a wonderful week finding and declaring who you are in Christ!

All Scriptures taken from the New International Version

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And the winner is...

Congratulations to Cecilia of Dearest Lou!  She is the winner of the 50 Follower Celebration Giveaway for a $25 gift card to Target.  I know that she will be needing lotsa stuff from Target because she's expecting.  If you get a chance follow this link over to her blog and congratulate her.

Make sure to stop by tomorrow because Clara Hodgin from Happy in Life, Young in Love will be sharing a guest post.  I'm enjoying getting to know Clara.  She has been extremely positive and helpful. Plus, I've already read the post and it's definitely worth reading. :)

I truly hope that you are all having a wonderful summer.  Until tomorrow, go with God's blessing and remember that He is for you.  Even when your world seems to be falling part, God is for you.

"Praise be to the Lord my Rock who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. 

 He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, 

who subdues peoples under me." ~Psalms 144:1, 2

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