Psalm 51:10-12
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
This is the core of David's plea to God: give me a new, clean, pure heart and spirit so that I can be in Your presence. Note that he doesn't just ask God to help him stop certain behaviors like adultery or murder. It is a common mistake to ask God to help us stop some addictive behavior that has become ugly in us. Although stopping that would be a good thing, God wants more. He wants our hearts. He doesn't just want us to act good on the outside and thus end up being self-righteous pharisees. He wants us to be changed on the inside, to have clean hearts, pure thoughts, and to walk in His presence. As our inner person is changed, our behaviors will also change.
O God, create in me a clean heart.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
This is the core of David's plea to God: give me a new, clean, pure heart and spirit so that I can be in Your presence. Note that he doesn't just ask God to help him stop certain behaviors like adultery or murder. It is a common mistake to ask God to help us stop some addictive behavior that has become ugly in us. Although stopping that would be a good thing, God wants more. He wants our hearts. He doesn't just want us to act good on the outside and thus end up being self-righteous pharisees. He wants us to be changed on the inside, to have clean hearts, pure thoughts, and to walk in His presence. As our inner person is changed, our behaviors will also change.
O God, create in me a clean heart.