David Cried “Create in Me a Clean Heart”, Should You too?
Seeing how men and women of faith lived their lives – the good, the bad and the ugly – is part of the wonder and beauty of the Word of God. We see their mistakes, their triumphs, fears, pains, dreams, defeats and their relationships with the Lord – from the benefit of hindsight! In fact, after his sordid affair with Bathsheba, David cried out, “Create in me a clean heart, O God! And renew a right spirit within me!” (Psalm 51:10)
In spite of his human flaws, David still turned to the Lord instead of from Him even when he had fallen. This is a powerful example of the mercy of God that every person still needs, even after they are saved.
A Broken Spirit and a Contrite Heart
At the point in time when David cried, “Create in me a clean heart“, Jesus Christ had not yet come to earth, although He did a new work in David’s heart. But, once Jesus did come and He is received at salvation, is this something that the people of God should still cry out if sin has been covered by His blood, washed clean and made as white as snow?
Praying “Create in me a clean heart” is not a salvation issue, but a sanctification one. Your heart is cleansed at salvation, made new and your sins are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ at the moment of your salvation because, “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him, and he in God.” (1 John 4:15) but salvation and sanctification are two completely different processes of creation- and you need them both- and you must invite the Lord to do them both.
Salvation and sanctification are two completely different processes of creation- and you need them both- and you must invite the Lord to do them both.
~Alicia Purdy
In the Old Testament, men and women of God didn’t have Jesus Christ, but clung to the promise of salvation, a Messiah, a Savior, the One who would change everything, even though they didn’t know who He would be. Even so, the awareness of sin in contrast to God’s holiness was ever-present within those who sought the Lord and His relief and the hope of salvation.
Can a Truly Clean Heart Before God Still Make Mistakes?
Every day we must choose to “…lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily entangles us” (Heb. 12:1) and renounce secret sin and shame tied to our past. Everyone struggles against sin, but Jesus Christ, the Hope of Glory has come! And because of Jesus Christ, who is “The Word” (John 1:1), believers are cleansed by “the washing of the water of the Word.” (Eph. 5:26)
The word “create” that David used was more than a cry for salvation or a cleansing from sin – he wanted to be broken and put back together by the Lord. David lifted up his soul to the Lord because he wanted the rough edges polished off. David wanted to be smashed to pieces and refashioned to look more like the Lord- no matter how painful it would be. David wanted the Lord to create and birth within him something that was entirely new.
The word “create” that David used was more than a cry for salvation or a cleansing from sin – he wanted to be broken and put back together by the Lord.
~Alicia Purdy
“Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins and may they not rule over me. They, I will be upright and innocent from great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:12-14)
Karma and What Goes Around Comes Around
Because of the fallen darkness of this world, the law of karma is always in effect to those who walk in the darkness of the world, but you walk in the light! You have been cleaned by the washing of the blood of Jesus! The counterfeit of Karma cannot control or dictate the course of your life. You are not a victim to satan’s law of karma. The curse is broken through Jesus Christ, don’t let the lies get into your head!
Karma is the law of the sinful world, that what goes around comes around. Karma says you’ll never be truly free or clean, but the Lord is a redeemer. He will redeem opportunities. He will redeem every bad choice. That does not mean you will not experience consequences. David experienced many devastating effects of his poor choices, but when you experience them under the redemptive hand of God you are not subjected to the same outcome.
And the Lord works those things together for the good of you and all those who call on His name. You are no longer subjected to any curse.
You are not the victim of karma. That is satan’s law as long as you walk in the light of Jesus Christ, the darkness cannot overtake you. (1 John 1:5) You are clean and transformed and renewed – yes, even if you struggle. And you are under God’s unfailing love grace mercy and faithfulness. Do not fear karma. Do not claim karma. Claim the scriptures that God has set you free from the handwriting of ordinances that was against you.
David’s cry to “create in me a clean heart” was not a cry to be a “new creation” through salvation, but a “new creation” through sanctification!
Thought for today: A Clean Heart is One that is Washed by the Word
The processes of the creation and transformation in your spirit and soul are equally crucial to your relationship with the Lord and both are by your invitation to Him – once at the point of your salvation and then each day afterward as you grow in your faith and knowledge of Him. When you come to Christ, you already know that there’s more work to be done!
Everyone makes horrible mistakes, bad choices and does sinful things- in spite of best efforts. But that doesn’t mean you need to get saved again and that is not what David was crying out for when he cried to the Lord “Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit in me!”
David was a worshipper. That is what made him man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22) and yet he recognized that loving God wasn’t enough to get him through life, living for Him was just as important.
…David recognized that loving God wasn’t enough to get him through life, living for Him was just as important.
~Alicia Purdy
After salvation, your “cleansing” will be part of your praise testimony. When you cried out “create in me a clean heart!” the Lord heard you. Don’t fear it. Don’t hide it. Don’t avoid it. You are the victory God wants to show someone else who is struggling. YOUR life is the hope they will have when they see what Christ has done in you. YOURS are the shoulders another will stand on.
He has given you all of Himself, there isn’t any more of Him to have. Now, your assignment is to give Him all of you. A lifestyle of worship and praise in His presence will create a closeness with the Lord that you need and every day, for the rest of your life, you must continue to extend that invitation to the One who loved you first.
Grab Hold of Cleansing, Sanctification and Transformation – Your Promises from God! “Meribah: The Proving Ground of God, for You”
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