HEART TRANSFORMATION (4)

“Create in me a CLEAN HEART, O God, and renew a STEADFAST SPIRIT within me” – Psalm 51:10

The Psalmist King David exemplified a strong, but humble desire and faith in God for genuine HEART TRANSFORMATION: “Create in me a CLEAN HEART, O God, and renew a STEADFAST SPIRIT within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit” (Psa.51:10-12). A clean heart is a pure heart; while a steadfast spirit is a one that is faithful and loyal to God. David models for us a posture of humility that will lead to powerful encounters with God’s transformative love. He didn’t sit back and merely live with that which plagued him but went to God with his problems, to be changed. It takes passion for purity of heart and hands to approach God (Psa.24: 3-4; Mt.5:8).

David pleaded for God’s forgiveness following a series of utterly sinful choices. 2 Samuel 11 recounts the domino effect of sin: David took Bathsheba, Uriah’s wife, to his bed, got her pregnant, then tried to cover up the mess by recalling Uriah from the front lines of battle against Israel’s enemies to sleep with his wife so that he would believe the baby was his. Eventually, unable to manipulate the situation to this end and cover up his trespass, David orchestrated matters on the battlefield to get Uriah killed. He didn’t acknowledge or repent of the first sin of lust; so his sin was magnified. He persisted in a pattern of trespass without repentance, until he was forced to deal with a monument of debt before the Lord (vv.3-4). The king had wronged several people, but first and foremost, God. His heart turned to acknowledge his sins and what it had cost both of them: The son Bathsheba bore him died.

As humans burdened from both our sins and the fallen nature of the world around us, we are in critical need of transformation. God has the power to clean us up on the outside and also transform us at the core of who we are. But He doesn’t force these on us. He works when we make space for Him to do so. If we would experience the freedom and joy that comes from the inner working of the Holy Spirit, we must seek God humbly and honestly, giving room for Him to do the impossible in our lives. In his act of humility, David opened himself up to the Spirit’s powerful work. The perks of power became less important to him than obedience to the Lord.

It’s futile when we try to convince others and ourselves that we don’t need help, or to fabricate a facade that all is well, or do everything to maintain a sense of control in our lives as regards our spirituality. We must avoid placing appearances above reality. We must not allow that which is destroying us from the inside to persist simply because we are unwilling to acknowledge that we need help. It’s like trying to cover up an external wound with jewellery, expecting the superficial beauty to contain the power to heal what’s underneath. We need healing that comes from humility and honesty, not a cover-up; an open heart to the one true Healer. God’s Heart for us is to put down our guards, take an honest look at our hearts, and recognize our need for transformation.  

The gospel doesn’t just get us out of hell; it also makes us new. Grace doesn’t just help us shed the weight of past sins; it empowers us to feel and live differently. God longs for us to pause and call out that which is robbing us of the abundant life He so willingly died to give us. He is willing and able to change us if we’ll continually seek transformation. As we make room for His Presence daily through seasons of prayers, He’ll do a mighty work of transformation of our attitudes, behaviour, and lives, beginning in our hearts!