Create In Me a Clean Heart

We opened this Sunday with a personal story about a health scare, and how the words of Psalm 51:10 took on new meaning: “Create in me a clean heart.” Then we turned to David’s prayer and the events that led him to write it.

We walked through four points. To have a clean heart, we must first pursue what’s on God’s heart. Like David, our will must chase God’s will. When we resist him, our hearts harden like Pharaoh’s.

Second, we must face our sin and repent. David didn’t minimize what he did with Bathsheba and Uriah. He owned it. He faced Nathan’s words: “You are the man.” And he turned back.

Third, we must be mindful of God’s Word. Psalm 119:11 says, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” The Scriptures guard us and clean out the plaque of our sin nature.

Finally, God creates a clean heart in us when we ask him. The Hebrew word for “create” in Psalm 51 is the same word used in Genesis 1:1. Only God can do this work. And every follower of Christ must ask him.

Something to sit with this week:

Is your heart tuned to God’s signal? When you fail him, do you feel it?