Focus

Slow your breathing and become aware of the taking in and letting out of your breath. Focus on putting things aside so you will be open to what God is saying to you today.

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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

What steps are we taking to become what God intends for our lives? Today’s scripture suggests how to do this.

First, we ask God to have mercy on us for we are sinners. We must ask for forgiveness and cleansing from our many transgressions. We must be washed clean by the blood of Christ.

Second, God desires us to have truth in our inward being. We must have wisdom in our secret heart. We have to be clean inside and out to restore our spirit, to have the joy of salvation, and to open ourselves willingly to be used by God.

Finally, we can gain wisdom and be used to help and teach others to find their way back to the God of salvation. We will glow with the power of the spirit and others will want to know how to have this experience of turning to God.

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Pray

Save me, O God of salvation! Teach me to be inside-out, upside-down, head to toe, body and soul cleansed by the blood of the Lamb. I offer all of me to be used by you to lead others to the knowledge and perfection of your holy Word. Amen.

Go with God.