Deeper in Worshipਨਮੂਨਾ

Day 11—True worship comes from your spirit

Devotional
David’s anguish and repentance for his moral failure against Bathsheba and the subsequent murder of her husband Uriah continue in this, the second half of Psalm 51. Having already asked for mercy, cleansing, and the blotting out of his iniquities, David now cries out to God, “Create in me a pure heart” (Psalm 51:10 NIV). To create is to make something from scratch, and David is clear that he needs the Lord to create in him a pure heart, something so very different from his current condition. Furthermore, David asks for a “willing spirit,” for this new heart to make him inclined to pursue the will and purposes of God. These are significant requests, but David has a clear purpose in mind, that he might “teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you” (Psalm 51:13 NIV). Talk about a new start! Clearly, the Lord granted David’s requests because later, in the New Testament, David is referred to as "a man after God's own heart" (Acts 13:22 NIV). What strikes me most about this Psalm is David’s honesty and transparency before the Lord. In his case, repentance and forgiveness resulted in a whole new purpose in life. God is seeking after “true worshippers (who) will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth” (John 4:23 NIV). Our worship must be authentic and honest, but it must also be Spirit-filled because “God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24 NIV).

Prayer
Create in me a pure heart, Lord, that I might bring many into the knowledge and saving power of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Application
From this day forward, resolve to keep a short account with the Lord of your sin and brokenness. Make a habit of coming before the Lord in repentance and asking for the renewing of His Holy Spirit.

Siân Rees