Spring Cleaning of the Heart
April 21, 2022 by Cindy Martin
Filed under Daily Devotions
By Cindy Martin –
Often times when we’ve been battered by the inevitable hard stuff of life, not only are our minds and bodies affected but also our spirits. Bitterness, hardness, harshness and cynicism can easily take root during an extended season of trial and pain. As a result our demeanor is changed without us even recognizing the slow fade that takes place.
I believe that David recognized that fade in his own life when he made peace with God after his incident with Bathsheba. He had hardened his heart towards God and even became angry when the prophet Nathan confronted him with his sin.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10 ESV). In his deeply heartfelt prayer of repentance, David asks that God would not only create within him a clean heart but also that he would renew a right spirit within him. He wanted God to not only forgive him for the sin he had committed but also to remove the residue it had left on the intangible part of his being. He knew that his heart was not naturally bent towards God – he had proved that by his actions. Yet he also knew that he needed God’s forgiveness AND His power in his life to soften his heart and “bend” it back towards his Savior.
Not always is this a quick or easy transformation. In fact it is often the exact opposite. Yet it’s this process of softening that provides the clearest opportunity for God’s transforming power to shine through us. I liken it to being in the sun – you don’t often recognize the glow the sun’s rays bring to your skin until after you’ve spent time in its presence. Likewise, spending time in God’s presence changes an intangible part of our being that is clearly reflected in our demeanor.
Prayer: Lord God, thank You that You not only want to forgive my sin, You also desire to renew a right spirit within me. Grant me the grace to linger in your presence that I may reflect the radiance of Your transforming power.
Verse: “A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit” (Proverbs 15:13 NIV).
Cindy and her husband of 23 years live with their two special needs children near Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She is passionate about people experiencing the difference Jesus desires to make in their everyday lives. This passion finds expression in her speaking, writing and teaching. Visit www.lifemeetsreality.com for more information.