A LOYAL SPIRIT
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 You.
Psalm 51:10-12 (NLT)
Psalm 51 is both powerful and poignant. Several years ago, I decided to commit the entire chapter to memory so that in my failures and falls, I'd have this passage to go to immediately. The context of this Psalm is vital to understanding the impact. David, a man described as being after God's own heart, is arguably the most well-known King in the entirety of the Old Testament. His victory over Goliath is certainly his most famous deed. However, perhaps his second most notable act was his gross abuse of power with Bathsheba. She was married to another man (who actually was one of David's mightiest soldiers), but that didn't stop David from taking her into his bed. When she became pregnant, David had her husband killed and covered up the whole affair. He thought he got away with it, but God sent a prophet to confront David, which led to his repentance and this Psalm.
At some point, you will fail or fall. We're imperfect people living in a fallen world with an enemy who tempts and tries us at seemingly every turn. When you're confronted with your sin and failure, don't go into a spiral. How easy is it when you've fallen once to just continue to choose a poor course of action? Instead, when confronted with your sin, repent and trust God anew!
I love that twice in the verses above, David asks God to help him walk in obedience. I didn't even know that was something you could ask God for! But you can, and I do—regularly. I want to have a loyal spirit toward God. I want to enjoy following God's ways, not out of dutiful obligation but from a place of joyous obedience.
APPLICATION: Is there an area of your life you've been keeping from God? Maybe you've been living 98% surrendered to Him, but what about that last 2%? Ask God to point out anything in you that is offensive to Him (see Psalm 139:23-24). Repent. Confess. Spend time with the totality of Psalm 51, perhaps repeatedly. Maybe even consider memorizing it!
PRAYER: God, I thank You that when I stumble You still love me. Your love for me is not based on how good I am. You simply love me because You made me. Help me to walk in Your ways. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Make me willing to obey You. In Jesus' name, amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?