Create – Renew – Restore – Grant

I like new technology and new ideas that enhance my ability to work smarter and serve my customers and clients more efficiently. I sometimes think that all these time-saving ideas should generate way more margin for a deeper relationship with the Lord, my family and my friends. I think the time-saving devices have simply made me busier and I’m able to accomplish way more in less time.  I’ve been working hard recently at creating more margin or space in my calendar to connect with Lord, my family and with others.

I read David’s repentant Psalm this am and it always stirs my heart. I can relate to David in that I’ve sinned and need to repent. I notice some things I had not seen before in the requests that David was making of the Lord. Check this out…

¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
¹¹ Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.
¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. (Psalm 51:10-12 NIV)

Create – David was asking God to build something that had not existed yet – a pure heart. I sometimes think my heart is pure, but unless the Lord creates it – I’m not sure it’s anywhere near pure.

Renew – I think David remembered what a steadfast spirit felt like. I like to use the word stead as a synonym for steadfast. I so want a steady spirit every single day.

Restore – The joy of my salvation is not automatic. I think the joy of my salvation comes because of a pure heart and steady spirit.  I want to relax knowing that the Lord has saved me and I have no worries about my destination after death.

Grant – The willing spirit comes when I can push the temptations and traps of the enemy to the side. My willing spirit is an obedient spirit. I love the word “sustain” that David uses – this is a long-term benefit of a willing spirit. I can continue to operate at a strong sustainable level with a willing and obedient spirit.

This Psalm has moved me over the years because of my sin and stupidity. David is profoundly repentant from his sin with Bathsheba that shook his faith and harmed a lot of people. There have been times that I have pushed my faith to the side to get what I want even when the Lord is advising against it. I have sinned without counting the cost or even caring about the costs to my relationship with Him.

God is so faithful. He is so forgiving. He is so patient. He is so full of grace. He is so full of mercy. I’m not sure how to love like He loves. This repentant heart is a strong example of what a convicted sinner looks like. I can’t help but believe this was a huge turning point in David’s life – because he became known as a “man after God’s own heart”.  I don’t ever want to quit pursuing a pure, steady, restored heart with an obedient spirit before God.

Pressing On!

Dwayne