Psalm 51 (Day 28): Praying through Grace

Holy Spirit, 

teach me today 

to love You, 

to listen to You, 

to learn the Word of God, 

to seek the Word of God, 

to choose the ways of God, 

to set my heart on the paths of God, 

to memorize the truths God imparts, 

to remember the Word of God, 

to turn toward God's wisdom, 

to sing evermore about the Word of God, 

to ponder the Word of God, 

to obey the Word of God, 

to both know and keep the Word of God, 

and share the Word of God 

with humility, gratitude, boldness, and love 

so that, out of the overflow of the wisdom You impart, 

others may be blessed through me. 

In the name of Christ Jesus, 

my Lord and King, 

I pray. 

Amen!

I greet you, my friend, on this twenty-eighth morning of my 50 days of waiting for Pentecost Sunday! As I continue to inch ever closer to that day of commemoration and celebration, my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices to learn and re-learn that "man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Mt 4:4).

Indeed, that is what the Holy Spirit imparts.
Indeed, that is what Christ employs to strengthen my faith.

Consequently, as I meditate on Psalm 51, I sense the Holy Spirit guiding me to "eat" God's Word:

     -  to taste the mercy of the Father
     -  to imbibe the unfailing love of God
     -  to swallow the great compassion of the Lord
     -  to salivate after the cleansing of the Most High

As I "eat" His Word, dwelling upon and pondering the truths found in the first nine verses of Psalm 51, I am led to ask:

Am I full of the Holy Spirit?
Fill me with Your fullness, O Lord!
Do grateful words come out of my lips?
Help me give thanks in all circumstances!
Does my countenance reflect God's joy?
Lead me to rejoice and rejoice in the Lord always!
What transgressions am I being led to confess?
 . . . impatience, laziness, greed, complacency, jealousy, frustration, self-righteousness, fear, lust . . .

"Forgive all our sins

and receive us graciously,

that we may offer the fruit of our lips."

Hosea 14:3, NIV

I am thankful that God is teaching me through Psalm 51.

I am learning to worship and serve God.
I am learning to trust Him.
I am learning to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit.
I am learning to rely on the anointing of the Spirit to share the good news of Christ.
I am learning to rehearse the message that unleashes freedom, recovers sight, releases prisoners, and proclaims God's favor.

Thank you, Lord, for all that You have taught me thus far.

Today, I have finally made it to the famous verse 10,

"Create in me a pure heart,

O God,

and renew a right spirit within me."

Tomorrow, God willing, I hope to focus on David's specific request. For today, I feel led to only pray through the grace inherent in the above verse.

Father, this verse reminds me that You are indeed the Creator. Only You can craft out of nothing something, anything, everything that is true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious, beautiful, good, pure, excellent . . . and ultimately, Christ-like. Only You can fashion each individual in a manner that we can house a treasure like that inside of us. Thank You for giving us a desire for purity of heart because Your Word promises the blessedness of seeing Your face when our heart is pure. Thank You for the promise of renewing our spirit in such a manner that our attitude can be the same as that of Christ Jesus--good, humble, peaceful, loving, grateful, obedient, gracious, fruitful, kind, faithful, tender, inviting, compassionate, rescuing, others-centered, servant-hearted, joyful . . . Thank You for helping us aspire to sing the melody of love inherent in Your grace. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen!