Here is a devotion to start your day!
A spoken version of this devotion is available through the Still, Here audio reflections podcast.
Scripture: Psalm 51:1–12
Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin.
Reflection
When King David confesses sin he is not abstract. His confession rises from a specific, grievous failure—adultery, abuse of power, and an orchestrated death. When Nathan confronts him, David does not defend himself. He turns to God with a desperate plea.
Notice how deeply he understands the problem. He does not ask God to help him manage his image or repair his reputation. He knows that sin is not just a bad action; it is a warped heart, a disordered love. And only God can create something new at that level.
Many of us fear prayers like this. We worry that if we admit the depth of our brokenness, God will finally give up on us. David’s prayer suggests the opposite. Confession is not the end of relationship with God; it is the doorway back into joy. David later says, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation.” The God who confronts David also restores him.
In this season of Lent, we are invited to stop patching cracks and bring the whole damaged wall to God. Love in the wilderness is willing to go beneath the surface, not to crush us, but to cleanse and renew.
Today, dare to bring God not just your behavior, but your heart.
A Prayer of Presence
Merciful God,
I bring You more than my mistakes; I bring You my tangled heart. Create in me what I cannot create in myself—a clean heart, a steadfast spirit,and the joy that comes from being fully restored. – Amen
Practice for Today
Rewrite Psalm 51:10–12 in your own words as a personal prayer. Keep it somewhere visible—on your phone lock screen, a sticky note, or journal—and return to it throughout the day.
Consider This...
If God were to “create a clean heart” in me, what might change in how I see Him, myself, and others?
Carry This Prayer With You Today
Breathe in: Create in me a clean heart…
Breathe out: … Renew Your Spirit in me
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