Create in me a clean heart, O God, 
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence, 
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Psalm 51: 10-12

One of my favorite and faithful renditions of the words above in song is Keith Green’s “Create in Me a Clean Heart.” He plays and sings the words with a passion of a man who knows what it means to seek redemption from the only God who can make a heart clean – as white as snow.

Can you identify with that kind of emotion and surrender to God?

I think surrender is the key word as David was completely dependent on God to:

• cleanse his heart, 
• renew his spirit, 
• keep him in God’s presence, 
• experience the power of the Holy Spirit, 
• to restore the joy of God’s salvation, 
• to strengthen David resolve to seek God.

Like David, we have no power to make our lives right and God does not demand that we do so.  He invites us to always come just as we are and allow Him to forgive and redeem.

No matter where you find yourself today, whether you are near to God or far away, there is great value in repeating and soaking up the power of those words from Psalm 51: 10-12, as we live in the realization of God’s redemptive power. Sometime this weekend find a quiet place and do just that.