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
As we have been pursuing Jesus and His presence, a prayer like the one we read in Psalm 51 is a good way to ask God to show us what is truly in our heart. It is also a place to be reminded of who our God truly is in all His glory.
In verse 12 of Psalm 51, King David asks God to restore the joy of His salvation and to uphold Him. There are times in our lives where we need to ask God to restore our joy and give us strength to keep going.
God is a God who restores. He renews, redeems, and restores. He brings things back to life and makes beauty from ashes. The more you get to know the God of the Bible, the more you see His restorative and healing nature at work in the lives of His children.
If you are in need of restoration today, you can know that you are not alone. And it is a Biblical response to go to our Heavenly Father and simply ask Him to do what only He can do in your heart both to heal and to restore. Whether you’ve simply forgotten the wonder of salvation and the joy that comes from being in His presence or if you’ve simply been walking through a time of mourning and loss, you can ask God to restore what’s been lost.
And as the final words this verse say, “Uphold me with a willing spirit.” God is willing to lift us up, to hold us with His righteous right hand, to be strong when we are weak. Don’t be afraid to come before Him today in earnest prayer and ask for His restoring work in your heart.
Today’s Prayer:
God, create in me a clean heart today. Show me what is in my heart that is not pleasing or honoring to You, and help me to rely on your Spirit within me to walk in Your ways. I pray that you would restore the joy of my salvation today and help me remember who You are. Give me opportunities to remind those around me of the joy of knowing You, and being loved and saved by You. Thank you for being strong when I am weak. In Jesus’s name, amen.