Join us in today’s devotion and prayer-
Read the Psalm in your favorite version or in the following KJV and then join us in praying below:
A Psalm of David
51 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar. (KJV)
Our Father,
You have said in your Word that you will not despise a broken and contrite heart, if we come before you and confess our sins, you are faithful and just to forgive and purify us from all unrighteousness.
The enemy keeps on placing our failures before us trying to convince us that we have no right to ask for your help. Besides he tells us that we haven’t really done anything to be ashamed of and our missteps are less than most and need no correction.
But your Holy Spirit calls up our sins before us and convicts us to seek your loving forgiveness and correction. He calls us into the light out of the darkness that the enemy claims is nothing more than human nature. But you have given us another nature in the name of your Son Jesus.
In your Word you have said that when we sin we have an Advocate that stands before your throne speaking in our defense –your very own Son Jesus Christ the righteous one. He is the atonement for our failures the ever present sacrifice for our sins today and forever. It is through faith in his righteousness and not our own that we have been adopted into your family and come before you now asking for your forgiveness and help.
Cleanse us now from our unrighteousness, let us feel your closeness once more, let us sing songs of praise and joy. Hide your face from our sins, and blot out all our iniquities. Create in us a clean heart, Our Father, and renew a right spirit within us.
Cast us not away from your presence, like the enemy wants, but let your Holy Spirit continue to dwell within us and write the good news of your love upon our hearts. Restore to us the joy of our salvation, and help us to have a willing and contrite spirit.
Then we will be able to teach others your ways and demonstrate your love to those living in darkness. Our lips will continue to praise your name and our voices will sing songs of everlasting joy.
In Jesus name, Amen.