Psalms 51:10-12
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”
People who are willing to evaluate or self-examine and to make changes accordingly, they are positive and successful people. They have the courage to face their mistakes and correct them. God is pleased to see their confession and return.
Psalm 51 is a Psalm of confession. David and Bathsheba committed adultery. God sent prophet Nathan to rebuke David, he repented immediately. Then David wrote this Psalm of confession. Repentance of sins, making correction to the mistakes are not easy. From the prayer of David in Psalm 51, we know that David was determined to return to God with true repentance. He asked God for 5 things: 1) give him a pure heart that he can think right and will not do those unclean or evil things; 2) give him steadfast spirit again that he will not use cunning thoughts nor misused his authority; 3) not to forsake him, let the Spirit of God be with him and do not let him run away from God; 4) to restore the joy of Salvation to him, full of joy and blessings; 5) give him the willing spirit to follow God’s reminder, guidance and help.
There are times we have been overcome by sins. Do we choose to hide them? or do we choose to face them and repent? “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 NIV) From the prayer of confession from David, we have learnt to ask God for those 5 things, God is pleased and He will answer our prayer and grant our wish.
As year 2020 is coming to end, let us schedule some quiet moment to review what we have done and how are we in this year. Learn from mistakes, confess our sins, and repent, cling on the good and excel on them. We can use the prayer from David as a guide to refresh or renew ourselves in the year 2021, serving God faithfully in unity and harmony, conduct ourselves in the manner worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ, live the lifestyle which is pleasing to God.
Wish you all to have a blessed and fruitful 2021.