RECREATED HEART AND RIGHT SPIRIT

“CREATE in me a clean HEART, O God, and RENEW a RIGHT SPIRIT within me” – Psalm 51:10

The cry of every passionate Seeker of Transformation is for a RECREATED HEART and RIGHT SPIRIT: “CREATE in me a clean heart, O God, and RENEW a RIGHT SPIRIT within me” (Rom.12:12). This prayer of David – written and sung thousands of years ago – paints a picture for us of the deep consequences of sin, and what true repentance, remorse, and renewal look like. According to Bible scholars, David used the same Hebrew verb ‘create’ that is used in Genesis 1:1 for the creation of the world; inferring that the kind of radical cleansing he needed could only come from God. To create means “to bring into existence.” At salvation, God had to create a clean heart in us because it did not exist; we were not born with it!

A right spirit does not come naturally; God creates it, and continually re-creates or renews it because we can do nothing to either create or maintain it in our own power! Some may argue that if God has forgiven our sins – past, present and future – when we repented and confessed Jesus as Lord, why ask Him to create in us clean hearts? The context of this Psalm provides greater insight on why. King David – known for his intimacy with God – experienced a season of sin in which he committed adultery and then murder to cover up his sin. He had lusted after Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, one of his “Mighty Men” (2Sam.23:8, 39). Later, David was confronted by a prophet of God (2Sam.12: 1-9). Upon realising the extent to which he had betrayed his God, David penned Psalm 51, asking for God’s mercy, cleansing, and restoration – for a clean heart!

David apparently knew the redirection of his desires and thoughts could only come about through divine intervention. He began by acknowledging his sin, asking God to have mercy on him, blot out his transgressions, wash him thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse him from his sin (vv. 1-3). Although he sinned against Bathsheba, Uriah, and his other wives, he realized he ultimately sinned against God (v.4). He pleaded with God to purge and wash him, and restore his joy, gladness, and health (vv.7-8). Feeling crushed under the conviction of his offenses against God, David asked for a clean heart and renewed spirit; that he not be severed from God’s Presence and Spirit; and have his Joy of salvation restored (vv. 10-12).

Only a lukewarm Christian will undervalue the need for a clean heart. When our heart is pure and known sins are confessed, there are no obstacles to fellowship with God through His Holy Spirit. We’ll be open to His guidance, blessings, and caution – and will avoid misplaced priorities and self-deception. In the rest of Psalm 51, David spoke of what he will be able to do when his heart is pure before the Lord. He'll be an example and testimony to unbelievers (v.13). His heart will be free of guilt, to rejoice before the Lord (v.14). He will be able to enjoy renewed closeness with God from the place of repentance and redemption (vv. 15-17). The flipside should also be true: We cannot do those things when our hearts are not clean.

Notwithstanding the reality of our redemption in Christ, we need continuing Radical Renewal. God desires for us to repent and be renewed whenever we become aware of sins that have affected our fellowship with Him: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1Jh.1: 8-9). To repent means we not only agree with God about the heinous nature of our sin, but we are determining to live a new life of obedience that is pleasing to God. He invites us to position our hearts so He can shape and refine us into the image of His Son (Rom.8:29). God will always make a fresh start in us if we submit to Him!