Renewal Through Holy Cleansing
I have sinned against You, my Lord, and I would ask that your precious blood would wash and cleanse every stain until it is in the seas of God’s forgiveness.
Jimmy Swaggart
After a hard days work outside or after a strenuous or long workout, you are covered in dirt and sweat. Your skin cries out for relief that can only come from a shower or long bath. You stink so bad that others don’t want to be near you. You barely even look like yourself. Your are a mess, and you need cleansing from the grime that covers your body.
This gets a little harder when the grime is found in our heart and soul. How do we wash away the mess that is in our heart? How do we remove the transgressions – the sin – that causes us to be so unholy and impure?
In this year of renew, I have been drawn to Psalm 51. In this passage, King David humbly asks God for forgiveness and cleansing from his sin. He wrote this prayer after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba. Throughout the prayer, David repeatedly asks God to wash away his sins and to cleanse his heart.
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10 (NIV)
You and I may not have sinned in the same way as King David, but we still need that holy cleansing. Our hearts and actions don’t always bring honor to God, and we too must ask God to cleanse and purify our hearts.
If you and I are truly to find the renewal we seek, we must start by examining our hearts, by confessing our sins, and by seeking God’s cleansing that comes through His forgiveness. When we take the time and effort to follow these steps, we have the opportunity for true renewal.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Psalm 51:12 (NIV)