Focus

Relax and listen. Consciously prepare to hear God’s Word. Clear your mind of the worries and tasks that lie before you. Open your heart and allow it to refresh.

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Read

Psalm 51:1-12 (NRSV)

Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you alone, have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are justified in your sentence
and blameless when you pass judgment.
Indeed, I was born guilty,
a sinner when my mother conceived me.

You desire truth in the inward being;
therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence,
and do not take your holy spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and sustain in me a willing spirit.

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Reflect

When I looked at the scripture options for today’s eVotion, I quickly decided to reflect upon the reading from the psalm. Like David, I understand the depth of my sin as well as my need for God’s mercy. Many scholars agree that David wrote this psalm after his affair with Bathsheba. While I have never had an affair; I truly understand those moments when my decisions resulted in sin against God and those I loved.

Like David, I have also petitioned God to “Create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me.” David’s heartfelt cry not only reminds me of my sin, but of God’s unfailing mercies that are new every morning. Great is thy faithfulness, 0 God, Lord unto me.

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Pray

God, hear the cries of our hearts as we confess our sin. Grant us your mercy and grace, wash us, cleanse us, and make us whiter than snow. Amen.

Go with God.