Teachings from Quest for God's Own Heart Ministry

Create in me a Clean Heart, My God

Psalm 51:1-10

“Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. 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. For I was born a sinner—yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there. Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me—now let me rejoice. Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.”

Do you feel like your failures make you unworthy of God’s love for you? Let me tell you the simple truth. None of us are worthy of God’s love. It is not because of us pursuing God that Jesus came to die for our sins. Jesus came to die for our sins because of His love for us. God the Father’s love is so powerful and pure that even though we were unworthy, Jesus died for us.

“This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins” (1 John 4:10, NLT).

That’s how much God the Father loves you. He didn’t love you because you were worthy. He loved you because His desire is to have an intimate relationship with you.

King David understood God’s loving grace. David had many faults. He blew off his responsibility as king and did not go with His soldiers to battle. He got cocky, believing he was king because of what he had accomplished instead of what God had ordained. David cheated on his wife, had a child out of wedlock, tried to cover up his sin, and had her husband killed in battle. David did not always do the right thing.

What made David a man after God’s own heart had nothing to do with his actions. David was a man after God’s own heart because he rested in God’s amazing grace. When David’s sins caught up to him, he begged God for mercy. Not only did God forgive him, but He also chose to forget David’s sins as well: As far as the east is from the west.

God is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore. He will also forgive and forget your sins. Satan tries to destroy your relationship with your Heavenly Father by bringing up your past sins. He doesn’t want you to enjoy your relationship with God. Satan wants you to live a life filled with regret and remorse. He wants you to feel like a total failure in life. However, God the Father sees you as His precious child. When you gave your life to Jesus, asking Him to forgive you for your sins, you became a Child of God. You have been set free from the penalty of sin and death. You no longer have to live a life of regret. Instead, you can live a life of freedom in Jesus Christ.

Just as David did, cry out to God to create in you a clean spirit. God has forgiven you! Forgive yourself. Live a life of joy, not sorrow. Live a life of freedom, not enslavement. Because of Jesus Christ, you are free! Thank Him and enjoy the life He has given you. Rest in God’s unfailing love, for His promises are always true.