“Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.” Psalms 51:1 NLT
My family is a big fan of a show where a husband/wife team take an old worn down house and make it fresh, clean and beautiful. In many cases I can relate to their clients when they are unable to grasp the potential of the house that the designer sees. The professionals visualize removing walls and re-arranging kitchen layouts. They describe their plans to gut, remove, demolish, strip the contents of the home. The clients are left with the decision to trust the design team even when they cannot fully see their vision.
Have you ever considered yourself a fixer upper? Through Christ, God looks at us with the same perspective as the designer in the show. He sees areas of our lives that need to be removed, stripped, demolished. He also sees our full potential.
I find Psalm 51 so relatable. King David loved God, but he got selfish, stingy, discontent. He allowed his flesh and desires to lead him down a path where he would end up sorrowing in his sins. He wrote Psalm 51 after reality hit and he was finally aware of how much he had messed up. Ever been there? I certainly have. I can recall times where I walked away from Christ to fulfill the desires of my flesh. The scariest part is, it wasn't always obvious to me when it is happening. But, over time allowing small fragments of selfish ambition into my life I open the door to more and more sin. Small fragments add up until reality hits and I realized I have strayed. I can recall a few years ago when for a few months, probably almost a year, my husband and I slowly drifted from Christ. Before we realized it we had ended up in a mess, completely broken and hurting. We were an old house, full of dirt, mold and sin covered walls.
“For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just.” Psalms 51:3-4 NLT
I am so thankful to have a merciful God who, thanks to Christ, holds back the punishment that we deserve. And, to put the cherry on top, through His grace, in addition to that mercy we receive wonderful things that we don't deserve. Because of his Mercy and Grace we can boldly approach the throne as imperfect sinners and ask for His restoration. King David knows he cannot purify himself.
King David asks God to have at it with the renovations of his heart.....
"Blot out the stain of my sins"
"Wash me clean"
"Purify me"
"Remove the stain of my guilt"
Until the day I meet Christ face to face I will be a continuous fixer upper. I have learned to seek him earnestly, pray often, read His word and realize although it appears in certain situations I "can" do things in my own strength, I am fooling myself for not allowing Christ to work through me instead. I am a renovation in progress, but I can begin to see the desire and vision of Gods Design for my life. In the meantime, I can approach God with my messes and mishaps without fear of rejection or condemnation. (Hebrews 4:16 “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”)
During the most recent episode of this show, there was a unexpected twist in the plans - asbestos. As I draw comparisons to a home renovation and a heart renovation it reminds me that sometimes our junk is invisible, even to us - however, God sees all of our sin. One of the scariest prayers I lift is for God to reveal to me those sin areas of my life that I am not aware of. Gulp! It's humbling what He has revealed to me through this prayer - pride, selfishness, bitterness, lack of forgiveness.
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.” Psalms 51:10 NLT
Just as I wouldn't want to live in a home with asbestos, I wouldn't want to have a sinful heart. I lift up David's plea in verse 10 - I want a clean heart and a loyal spirit!
When is the last time you allowed God to renovate your heart? As believers in Christ we have access to the best designer in the world, the universe in fact. We are in constant need of renovation....
PSALM 51
1 Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love.
Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.
2 Wash me clean from my guilt.
Purify me from my sin.
3 For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.
4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight.
You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just.[a]
5 For I was born a sinner—
yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
6 But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there.
7 Purify me from my sins,[c] and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me—
now let me rejoice.
9 Don’t keep looking at my sins.
Remove the stain of my guilt.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a loyal spirit within me.
11 Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.
13 Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you.
14 Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.
15 Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may praise you.
16 You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.
You do not want a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.
You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
18 Look with favor on Zion and help her; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit—
with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings.
Then bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.