Renewed!

Renewed!

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 AMPC

The Context and Focus:

David as king of Israel could get anyone he wanted to marry. In fact, by the time he met Beersheba, the wife of one of his soldiers, he had at least 2 women as wives. He could have anyone he wanted, but at a time when the bible records that kings go to war, David was in the palace. It could be that he had enjoyed so much success at war that his presence was no longer needed. Whatever it was, David was on the roof of his palace and saw another man's wife bathing. Without asking questions, he slept with her, and then after finding out she was pregnant and who her husband was, he tried to scheme and place the husband at the scene of his own crime. The man's integrity would not let him go home while the army was encamped in the open field. David felt he had no choice but to kill the man and take his wife. Maybe no one saw what David did, but God did. Even though the act was private and the killing of the husband privately contracted, the punishment was severe and public. You cannot play or joke with sin; it leads to death and destruction if one does not repent. Is there any secret sin I need to renounce, repent of and then return to God?

The Message:

The Creator of the human heart is the best person to speak to the nature, content and status of the heart. One of God's views about the heart is where he says: "The heart of man is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked." That is deep; there is no depth a man will not sink into just to seek pleasure. There is no life too sacred that man will not seek to take, if it pushes his agenda. The human heart is diabolical; this is why God Himself says he cannot use the natural human heart; it is too polluted to be used. God needs to create in man a new heart; one that is made of material that can receive God's touch, and allow Him work that which is His perfect will. The human heart cannot be refurbished, or a few things fixed with super glue or duct tape; it has to be a complete overhaul; a new heart formed and fashioned by the Creator to be responsive to the One who made it. David understood this need, and this is why he asked God to create in him a clean heart. Man cannot create a heart that God speaks about here; only the wisdom and power of the Most High God can. 

The Conclusion:

As much as God would want to work in me, I must give consent by submitting to His will and authority. Why would I ask God to create in me a clean heart if I am still in charge of my own life, controlling its focus and output? If I want a new heart, I have to approach the manufacturer, and take him on his terms, not mine. He is the only One who is able to promise and deliver on a new heart and a new spirit. He can operate on me, taking the stony heart out of my flesh, and giving me a heart of flesh, impressionable and impactable. What can you write on stone? Consider the effort it will take to inscribe anything on stone. Compare this to a heart of flesh; one that can easily written on. God wants to work in and write on my heart. He also wants to renew  my spirit too. Whatever wrong influences may have impacted my heart or dampened my spirit can be dealt with by God, if I would only surrender to His will. My spirit is expected to respond to God; I must avoid anything that would pollute or dilute that connection. I must turn to God frequently, seeking His help for renewal, restoration and revival. Only He can keep me constantly tuned in to His Spirit, and only He can work in me and make my life a vessel He can inhabit and use. God's time of favour is here.