Create in Me a Clean Heart

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Create in Me  a Clean Heart

I recently heard a prosperity preacher  telling his followers  to do  “this”  and  “this”  and  “this”  in order to align themselves  rightly with God — and then  God would make them  prosperous,  heal them,  free them from inclinations to sin,  and bring them joy.

But,  that’s not what God’s word  tells us  in the Bible.

When King David sinned greatly  in the matter  with Bathsheba  ( 2 Samuel 11 )  and his sin was found out,  he confessed his sin  to the LORD  and wrote  in Psalm 51:10-12,

Create in me  a clean heart,  O God,
And renew  a steadfast spirit  within me.
Do not cast me away  from Thy presence,
And do not take  Thy Holy Spirit  from me.
Restore to me  the joy  of Thy salvation,
And sustain me  with a willing spirit.

Not once — not even a little bit — did King David  try to look  to his own strength  to clean up his life  and start living decently again.      Humbly confessing his guilt,  David asked  for God’s mercy  in doing all things  for him.      Everything David listed  is  what is absolutely impossible  for human beings  to do  for themselves.      What is so impossible  for all of us?

• Making our own hearts clean and pure — only God  can clean up the filth  in our hearts.
• Making our minds and spirits get right  with God  and be strong in righteousness — only God  can work in our hearts and minds  the strength we need  to be strong  in the truth.
• Making ourselves righteous enough  to stand  in God’s presence — only God  can allow us  to come into His presence  and that is  through the grace  we have  in Jesus Christ.
• Making the Holy Spirit work in our lives — only God  can give  of His Holy Spirit  to those  who humbly acknowledge  God’s sovereignty  in all things.
• Making ourselves accept God’s salvation  in Jesus Christ  by our own will power — only God  can so work  in our hearts  through His word,  that we realize  our utterly sinful  and lost condition,  and finally give up  our pride  and accept God’s forgiveness,  because we cannot do otherwise  and still live.
• Making ourselves stay strong  in living for God — only God’s power  can keep on working  in our sinful natures,  to cause us  to willingly live  in His truths.

In David’s prayer,  we see  our utter helplessness.      We don’t have any power  to do what is good  and right  in God’s eyes.      When unbelievers  do good things,  there is always a bit  of a sinful motive  underneath their actions.      They kinda  want something  in return.      But,  the kind of godly living  God wants from us  is based  on the purity and holiness  of the love  He has given us  in Christ Jesus.      “We love,  because  He first loved us.”    ( 1 John 4:19 )

We are able to love  and live rightly  only when  we accept God’s sovereign love  and forgiveness  for us.      As David witnesses,  all the power  and ability  comes from God alone.      And,  His mercy towards us  is great.

Bowing before God’s love  in Christ Jesus,  we say,  “Hallelujah!      LORD,  all things  come freely  from You,  through Your grace  in Jesus.      Create in us  a clean heart,  O God  and help us  to lean on You  for everything.     Do for us  what we cannot  do for ourselves.”

Love,
Margaret

 

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

at 123hallelujah.wordpress.com

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Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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